An author who grew up in Workington has had her first book shortlisted for an award.

Anne Goodwin, who attended St Joseph's School until 1976, wrote Sugar and Snails which was published last year.

It is one of six books in the running for the Polari First Book Prize, which is awarded to an author whose first book explores the LGBT experience.

Anne, who grew up on Elterwater Avenue, began writing the novel after getting together with old school friends and completing the Coast to Coast walk.

Anne, 58, who now lives in Nottinghamshire, said: "I'm coming at it from outside the LGBT community, but the story has general appeal which people can identify with.

"I was a little bit anxious about approaching it from the outside, but I've been really welcomed and had an endorsement from transgender actress Rebecca Root from Boy Meets Girl.

"I was very pleased to be on the longlist of 12 and I feel really honoured to have a place on the shortist."

Her novel took seven years to put together.

Sugar and Snails is a midlife coming-of-age story about a woman who has kept her past identity a secret.

Anne's parents Tom and Marie Goodwin live at Wordsworth Court in Cockermouth.

Her sisters Linda Bowes and Clare Burgess and brother Michael all live in West Cumbria.