A WEYMOUTH child is now officially the world's youngest published author.
Bella-Jay Dark, who is five years old, recently decided she was going to write a book with her mum initially thinking it was ‘one of those things’, but after completing the project - she has now sold a minimum requirement of 1,000 copies - and has been awarded the title of world's youngest published author by Guinness World Records.
READ MORE: Weymouth youngster publishes first book at five-years-old
The youngster was officially crowned with the incredible feat on Monday when representatives from Guinness World Records contacted her mum Chelsie Syme with the news.
In a statement to Ms Syme, the records management team said: "We are thrilled to inform you that your application for youngest person to publish a book has been successful and you are now the Guinness World Records Title Holder."
The book itself, titled The Lost Cat, features a feline who goes on adventures but soon learns an important lesson.
Ms Syme said: "Both her dad and I are very proud.
"It's 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.
"This achievement is well deserved for all the hard work and dedication she's put into The Lost Cat, and which we're sure she will continue to do with her up and coming books. Watch out for The Lost Cat 2."
Having already met the other requirements, which included being published by an official company and being the right age, the final hurdle was to sell 1,000 copies.
Ms Syme added: "We're just waiting for the certificate which can take a couple of weeks to arrive."
She said the previous record was held by a woman called Dorothy Straight who wrote her first book at four but was not published until she was six.
Ginger Fyre Press, a publisher on Portland, is the company that has produced the book.
A spokeswoman from Ginger Fyre Press said: "We're thrilled at the news that Bella Dark has got the Guinness World Record for being the youngest author.
"She is a delight to work with, as professional as the adult writers and a talented little girl."
The book is available to purchase on Amazon and via Waterstones for £4.
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