A CHESTER author is looking to reach a £1,500 donation goal to fight the trade in rare animal parts.

Rhian Waller, who lives in the Garden Quarter of Chester, has written three animal adventure books for children aged seven-10, which have already raised £1,350 so far.

The last book Spy Rats is just out, and funds from its sale support APOPO HeroRATs, a not-for-profit organisation that trains giant African pouched rats to work like sniffer dogs.

Ms Waller, who grew up in Mold, Flintshire, said: "The HeroRATs are amazing. They've been taught to help detect land mines in places like Cambodia so they can be safely de-fused. They are used to diagnose patients with tuberculosis. Now they're being trained to find endangered animal parts, like pangolin scales, to stop people trying to export them for profit."

Ms Waller's stories have sold to readers in South Africa, the USA and Australia.

She has visited schools in Blacon and Hawarden to talk to pupils about her writing.

She said: "I generally write for adults, but I was inspired to write the Rat Tales Trilogy for children because I adopted some pet rats. Some people don't like them, but hundreds of people - grown-ups and children - have read the stories and love them."

The trilogy follows three young rats who accidentally stowaway on a freighter. They end up encountering pirates, cats, ferocious storms and enemies as they try to sail home.

Ms Waller said: "I didn't want to write another talking animal fantasy story, so a lot of the details in these books are based on history, and the rats behave like real rats. That means they can be a bit of a menace, sometimes.

"I'm a bit sad that the series has finished now Spy Rats is out. I really enjoyed writing them. Now I just hope to raise that last £140 to send to APOPO. If anyone is in need of a last-minute Christmas present, these books might offer something a bit different!"

The Rat Tales books are available on Amazon.co.uk to order in print and on Kindle. The first book is free to download, so parents can check it is suitable.

They are also stocked at Mold Bookshop and at Sally's Secret Garden on the Bridge Street rows in Chester.

You can contact the author direct at rhian.waller@hotmail.co.uk