A FORMER cop from Stevenston has written his first ever book to encourage children to keep safe after being inspired by his time in the force.

Martin Greenlees, 49, spent 27 years serving as an officer after leaving his job as a manager of Presto’s in Saltcoats.

Now retired, the former Auchenharvie Academy pupil moved to Dumfries and Galloway to join the police where he worked across various areas including counter terrorism and organised crime.

But it was his spell as a community cop visiting schools as part of ‘Stranger Danger’ that helped him draft up his debut book Community Cop Colin ‘Keeping Safe’.

Martin told the Herald: “I wrote Community Cop Colin 20 years ago when I was a Community Officer in Dumfries and Galloway.

“Part of my job was going to schools or nursery to talk about Stranger Danger. The idea is a stranger is someone you don’t know and how you shouldn’t talk to them.

“But I realised I’m a stranger to them, so this book is to introduce them to the uniform and say that sometimes you might need a stranger’s help.”

The book has become a big success, with Hayocks Primary School and St Peters ordering copies.

Martin, who still visits Stevenston every week to help his parents, hopes the book can drive home important messages to help kids stay safe.

He said: “The way it has been written it’s encouraging kids to ask questions and starting the dialogue between the child and the parent.

“I’d like parents to re-emphasise the message, what would Community Cop Colin want you to do?”

The Community Cop Colin series and is available at all major retailers and independents and is now selling all over the world.