David, divisional legal manager at Worthing and Chichester Magistrates' Court, is no stranger to seeing his work on shop bookshelves, having penned 18 books on local interest topics in the last 16 years.

And for keen walker David, his latest work, Walking the Riversides of Sussex, has been a real labour of love, taking nearly four years to finish.

David, 48, said: "I began field work this book in 2004. At the beginning, I wasn't really sure how easy or practicable it would be, but I am delighted with how the book has turned out. There are a fantastic number of waterways in Sussex and riverside walks can be so refreshing and therapeutic.

"My book is easy to use and is ideal for people who like to walk or stroll along riversides, or for people whose walking days are behind them and want to read about walks they have done in the past. I hope people will enjoy tackling these walks."

David's book is a definitive guide to walking beside each of the named rivers in Sussex and is divided into east and west Sussex areas.

There are full route descriptions, public transport links and mapping for each walk. It is also packed with illustrations.

"It was a massive undertaking, so I restricted myself to all the waterways which are identified and named on maps.

"It was quite a task, as everyone's heard of the Arun and the Ouse, but there are many smaller rivers and streams a lot of people may not have heard of, like the Kird and the Stor.

"I am interested in what starts out as a stream and broadens out into a giant estuary. Where the Arun starts near Horsham, you could barely float a bath tub in it, but by the time you get to Littlehampton, it widens out.

"I also enjoy the diversity of scenery along the riverbanks. There is some really picturesque and spectacular scenery."

Walking the Riversides of Sussex is priced £8.50 and available from all good bookshops.

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