A MOTHER has published a book written by her son a year after he was killed in a road crash.

Brenda Alderton from Great Waldingfield says the children’s book is a tribute to her son Christopher, who died days after finishing the story last January.

Christopher Alderton, who was 30 at the time of the crash, had spent three years writing As The Balloon Blows By prior to the accident at a junction on the A24 in Sussex.

The driver of the recovery truck, which collided with Mr Alderton’s blue Nissan Micra, was later sentenced to a six-month spell in prison for causing death by careless driving.

Although the past year-and-a-half has been extremely tough for Mr Alderton’s family, they can now smile as they flick through the pages of his book.

“The book has come out perfectly,” said Mrs Alderton, who worked with her daughters and close family friend Allister Callander to get it put together and commission a professional illustrator to bring the story’s characters alive.

“We didn’t change a thing – just the odd spelling mistake – and have published it as Christopher wrote it. He was always writing poems and stories and this is a tribute to him.

“He had a quirky imagination and his book reflects that. He loved writers like Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear and the story is in that style.”

Mr Alderton, who went to school at Stoke Middle and Cornard Upper, worked in music festivals and spent years travelling the world.

His mother has already sold more than half of the 150 copies printed and, now her costs have been covered, she intends to donate all profits to the Headway charity, which supports people with brain injuries.

The book can be purchased, priced �8 plus postage and packing by e-mailing astheballoonblowsby@gmail.com