YOUNG readers can join a fun-filled taxi ride around London in a new book illustrated by a Dorchester artist.

Paul Dilworth, of Queen’s Avenue, has been working for years as an illustrator and worked in London for the BBC on productions of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and The Tales of Beatrix Potter.

He has now teamed up with his cousin Peter Marshall, who writes under the pseudonym Edwin Vaux, to create the Toby the Taxi series of books for children.

The stories follow the adventures of Toby the blue London taxi as he makes new friends.

In the first of the series, Toby and his owner, Mr Phillips, travel across London.

They visit London Zoo, Buckingham Palace and he even gets a clean at a car wash.

Toby also delivers visitors to the Queen’s garden party, but is disappointed because he doesn’t get to meet Her Majesty.

He does however get to meet a Cockney pearly King and Queen.

They even fly above the city visiting Tower Bridge and the London Eye with the help of a helium balloon seller.

Mr Dilworth, 56, said: “My cousin is 68 and he used to work as a taxi driver. He still does a couple of days a week.

“He had these little stories over the years that he was writing for his children.

“They are now in their early 20s.”

He added: “Peter gave me a few ideas and said have a go at it.

“He has lots of other stories as well.”

Toby the Taxi is endorsed by the London Taxi Company and available from publishers Troubador or online from shopping site Amazon.

It will be available from Waterstone’s in Dorchester from this month.