A DORSET school child is looking to be crowned the world's youngster author after having her first book published.

Bella-Jay Dark, who is five-years-old and lives in Weymouth, recently decided she was going to write a book and initially her mum thought it was ‘one of those things’ children do but it has become a real title that has been officially published.

The youngster’s mum, Chelsie Syme, is bidding to have her achievement recognised as an official Guinness World Record having met all the requirements except selling 1,000 copies - which they are aiming to do.

Dorset Echo: Bella-Jay Dark, picture: Chelsie Syme

Ms Syme said: “I am just really proud of her, I did not think it was going to go this far so I’m just proud and want to see her get the acknowledgement she deserves.

“It all started when she came to me one day and said she was going to write a book and wanted me to staple some paper together.

“I thought it would just be some scribble and you would say ‘wow’ like you do as a parent.

“We then went to a book fair and someone there said they wanted to publish it.”

Ginger Fyre Press is the company that has produced the book, which is now available to purchase on Amazon and via Waterstones for £4.

The book itself, titled The Lost Cat, features a feline who goes on adventures but soon learns an important lesson.

Ms Syme continued: “It is about a cat that goes out getting lost and realises she should not go out without her mum, so it has got a good message to it.

“She has done the all the drawings by herself apart from one towards the back her older sister Lacey-May produced.”

Dorset Echo: The Lost Cat book written by Bella-Jay Dark, picture: Chelsie Syme

Having already met the other requirements, which included being published by an official company and being the right age, the Weymouth youngster’s parents are hoping she can sell enough copies.

Ms Syme added: “I believe the current record is held by a woman called Dorothy Straight who wrote her first book at four but was not published until she was six so we are pushing on that."

Bella-Jay already has eyes on further books with planning already underway for future titles.