A recently published novel set in Carlisle aims to open up on mental health.

Carlisle-born Peter Scholes published ‘Once Upon A Time There Was A Man’ last month, and he has pledged to donate book sales royalties for one calendar month to mental health charity, Mind.

“Men being men, we tend not to talk about things and I’m as guilty as anyone for that,” said Mr Scholes.

“Part of the book is set in the 90s, 70s and 80s, when mental health was even more of a taboo subject for men. It was perceived as a sign of weakness at the time and although things have improved, I think we’re still a long way from being fully accepting and supportive of each other.

“Hopefully the book is able to allow people to talk about it and address the issue rather than hide it.

The story follows a private detective, Paul Brunskill, who has been asked to search for a missing man. As the search progresses, Brunskill discovers that the person he is looking for is far more extraordinary than he thought.

It takes place in familiar locations across Carlisle including the King’s Head, Carlisle Cathedral, the Crown and Mitre Hotel, and St Bede’s church and school.

The book will also transport readers to other parts of Cumbria and across the Atlantic to New York.

Mr Scholes, a teacher who currently lives and works in Lancashire, grew up in Carlisle and said the place is still close to his heart.

He said he was inspired to support Mind after seeing the work done by Carlisle United player, Rhys Bennett, who undertook a 12-hour game streaming marathon and raised over £3,500 for the charity.

"The Rhys Bennet fundraiser really struck a chord with me as I was coming towards the end of writing my book," added Mr Scholes.

"I actually started the book as a short story a few years ago. I hardly touched it and then lockdown gave me the perfect opportunity to get my teeth into it again.

"Its about personal experience, the experiences of others and everything from elation to death."

The book, which also explores issues such as racism and homophobia, has an important message that Mr Scholes said he hopes readers will take away with them.

He added: "The main message behind the book when I started writing it was that it doesn’t matter who you are, you can be special.

"The most ordinary person can be extraordinary and that was the premise of the book."

'Once Upon A Time There Was A Man' is available on amazon.