AN AUTHOR who was inspired to write after her mum tragically passed away is giving back to those who helped care for her.

Angela Proctor is the author of the hugely successful Thumble Tumble series of books, based on the Isle of Arran and now families are getting the chance to visit the island and live in the cottage which is home to the stories.

Back in 2014, Angela’s mum passed away after a battle with cancer and now her cottage will be used as a place to escape to for families of people suffering cancer - all in tandem with the Beatson who helped care for Angela’s mum Jessie Brown before she passed away.

Angela explained: “Although I knew my mum was very ill, when she died it came as a huge shock to me. The sadness was overwhelming and began consuming me with every free moment I had. My husband Scott became so concerned that he suggested I write down the stories I used to tell the children to give me something to focus on other than grief. I had been telling the kids tales of witches, Thistle Pixies and the three legged Haggis called McCools who lived on the magical Isle of Arran for years, and these stories soon became the Thumble Tumble Book Series.

"As my mum spent her last months in the Beatson I decided to use the books to help support the Beatson Cancer Charity who had supported her.

"I also wanted to help other families like mine, and so I donated the use of my cottage on Arran where the books are set for young families coping with cancer to give them some respite.

“My Beatson families respite started on June 9, when six families currently dealing with cancer will use my cottage. The idea is to allow these families to escape from reality into a fairy tale world, the way I did when I lost my mum.”