A seven-year-old girl from Bexley has amazed her family and friends by publishing her first ever book.

Lyla Fitzsimmons first wrote her story on a piece of paper before showing her dad.

"I didn't take much notice at first," said her dad Danny. "But when I read it I thought it was quite catchy. I got in the process of making it into an actual book.

"We are over the moon. We can't believe it to be honest. It is a really nice keepsake."

The book - What Colour Are They - helps children learn about the colours of different animals.

Her dad said: "This has all came as a bit of a shock. She was nervous at first because it is a bit of a babies book and she didn't really want to take it in. I took it in with her at parents evening to show her teacher.

"They absolutely loved it and held an assembly on it. She also read it in front of the nursery kids. She now loves it."

Half of the illustrations were drawn by Danny and half by his daughter.

Lyla - a student of Hurst Primary School - has now almost finished her second book, this time focusing on what animals eat.

"I'm not the best drawer in the world," Danny laughed as he explained that book number two is made up entirely of Lyla's own pictures.

Despite being too early to know if Lyla would like to one day be a famous author, Danny said her daughter is now more hopeful of people recognising her in the street.

He said: "I don't think she is sure on what she wants to do in the future. But she does enjoy writing. She keeps telling me she is more excited about people stopping her in the street!"

Lyla's first book is available on Amazon here.

Danny said: "Don't get me wrong. It's no Harry Potter. It is very basic. But we are so proud of her."