THE wartime adventures of celebrated Pembrokeshire textile artist Eirian Short have helped shape the latest book by Newport author, Helen Carey.

The Other Side of the Street is the fifth novel in Helen Carey's best-selling war time Lavender Road series.

Set in London in 1944 the main character, pretty, well-to-do, and somewhat self-centred young widow, Louise Rutherford volunteers for a secret mission and ends up having to join the ATS, the Auxiliary Territorial Army. The grim realities of the ATS training camp come as a nasty shock to her.

While she was researching the book Helen popped in for a cup of tea with neighbour Eirian Short only to discover that Eirian herself had served in the ATS.

Helen interviewed Eirian about her experiences and was also allowed access to a private memoir Eirian had written for her family.

"She told me what it was like joining, the strict discipline, checks for nits, injections. A lot of really interesting things," said Helen.

"It was really really useful to get that first hand detail, you just don't get that from history books.

"It was an amazing coincidence and amazing that she was able to remember it in such detail, she is razor sharp. I already had the story but she was able to help me with the details of the recruitment and early training. It was terrifically useful."

Helen gave Eirian a copy of the book which she has devoured in just over a week.

"She loved it" said Helen. "She really really enjoyed it, she couldn't believe it. She's really enjoyed being part of it and I've put her in the acknowledgements at the back."

The Other Side of the Street can either be read alone or as part of the Lavender Road series and is available from Headline Books.