The 51-year-old, who worked at Smithdon High School, Hunstanton, for 13 years until his retirement and at Lynn's King Edward VII School for eight years before that, has released school novel, River Deep Mountain High.

Originally written and performed as a play, the book draws on Mr Calway's years of experience in education and is described as the "inside story" of pupils becoming teachers from the late '60s until the present.

Sections of the novel were successfully piloted at last summer's Edinburgh Fringe festival, but it was officially launched at Waterstone's in Lynn's Norfolk Street last month.

Around 50 people attended and Mr Calway sold around 30 signed books.
Mr Calway, who lives with his wife Melanie in Sedgeford, said: "It has taken 19 years to write my book."

Mr Calway, who has been involved in teaching creative writing for all his working life and has published seven collections of poetry, regularly tours his one-man show across the country.

Pre-sales of his first novel have been brisk and a second print run has already taken place.

Produced as a hardback, it retails for £12.99.