A RADCLIFFE-born gardener returned to his "roots" for his first book.

Cropper the Carrot Goes To The Show has been written by Mr Philip McCann (38).

And although he now lives in Sri Lanka, Philip is back in town for a fortnight for the launch of the illustrated children's book.

"Everyone is supposed to have a book in them and this is mine," explained Mr McCann, who moved to Sri Lanka last July when his wife, Catherine, got a job there.

The subject matter of the book is hardly surprising when you consider his background.

"I studied plant science at Leeds University. It was something I'd always been interested in while other 13-year-olds were out playing, I had my own allotment, " said Mr McCann who was a pupil at St Bernadette's RC Primary School in Whitefield.

He was the youngest member of Bury Horticultural Society and his passion for plants took him to working at Prettywood Garden Centre. Since then his career has really taken off. As well as being the Sunday Express gardening correspondent he has been the features editor of a gardening magazine and presents two shows on the Granada Breeze satellite channel called Cook's Garden and Gorgeous Gardens.

In fact, he'll be cramming more filming in during his fortnight's visit as well as promoting the book and visiting his family and friends.

"My parents live on Langdale Drive in Sunnybank so it's good to be able to see them, and it's also refreshing to be someone where you can breathe; Sri Lanka is very humid."

The book, which is available from Waterstone's in Bury, is the first of a series that Mr McCann has planned.

"I don't think there's many such books aimed at four and five-year-olds," concluded Mr McCann, who is pictured displaying his book.