A mum and care provider from Hinckley has been using her spare time during lockdown to write two children’s books.

Lyni Sargent was busy studying English at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College while self-employed as a creative therapist, when the Covid-19 restrictions came into force.

She said: “I was cramming loads into my week and suddenly found myself with too much spare time.

“I have to be busy, so that’s why I turned to writing books.

“English suddenly stopped abruptly, and I can’t see my clients, I felt completely lost. As well as without an income.

“Although the lack of money isn’t so worrying anymore, as I can’t go anywhere to spend it anyway.”

One of the books, Zoe’s 2020 Adventure, explains to youngsters what coronavirus is and what the lockdown means.

It follows the story of a young girl going for a walk with her mum, who tells her about how to protect herself physically and mentally during the outbreak.

Zoe's 2020 Adventure, which explains Covid-19 to children, written by Lyni Sargent from Hinckley.

Lyni said: “It’s a factually accurate story which aims to educate as well as reduce stress and anxiety.

“It has been edited by an NHS doctor so I’m confident that it will benefit many children during these uncertain times.

“We fear the unknown, and so hopefully children will be less anxious after reading the book; knowledge is power.

“The book also has space at the back for children or adults to be able to record their own experiences.”

Lyni runs Creative Catharsis, offering support for vulnerable and socially isolated people with home visits and activities.

She is still seeing two clients who have mental health issues despite the lockdown.

The author has also created The Pirates’ Underpants, with her three-year-old daughter, Felicity, coming up with the title.

The book tells the tale of a group of swashbucklers who have to rebuild their ship after it gets wrecked in a storm.

Lyni said: “They’re faced with many challenges, but Captain’s positive attitude enables them to come up with an achievable plan.

“They’re soon sailing the Seven Seas once more with a very unique sail.”

Lyni Sargent from Hinckley

She said the story is a good analogy for life at the minute, as people pull together to get through hard times.

The book has already proved a big hit with Felicity, who keeps reciting extracts from the story by heart.

Lyni also has a 15-year-old daughter, Molly.

The mum has ordered about 40 copies each of the books and she hopes to read the pirates tale in schools once the lockdown is lifted.

The imaginative author is also pencilling a sequel to the pirate story, about how the Captain came to have his parrot.

For more information or to order one of the books, visit the Lyni Sargent - Author page on Facebook.