An 80-year-old celebrity tortoise with thousands of online fans and an abominable snowman with an itchy friend feature in an east London writer's latest stories.

Highams Park author Ian Brown's latest books Albert Upside Down and Hugg ‘n’ Bugg Finding Home have their own special displays at Hale End library.

Albert Upside Down is the fourth book in the series, and features the adventurous tortoise escaping from his garden home but becoming entangled in some balloons.

To mark its release, Hale End library has created a display showing Albert mid-flight.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: The display at Hale End LibraryThe display at Hale End Library (Image: Ian Brown)

The library's windows also feature a yeti based on Ian's new series of books featuring a yeti called Hugg and a flea called Bugg.

Set in the Himalayas, Hugg ‘n’ Bugg Finding Home tells the tale of Bugg, who sets off to find a warm new home because he does not like the cold. After several failed efforts, he discovers the fur of a messy yeti called Hugg, and the pair form an unlikely team.

Ian said: “Unlike the Albert books, these are rhyming stories. Also, we don’t have a pet yeti at home.”

The new adventures can also be spotted in bookshops like Waterstone’s in Walthamstow and in the window of V and A Bookshop in The Avenue, Highams Park.

They also featured as part of a successful book signing and storytime reading event at Jo’s Bookshop in Station Road, North Chingford.

Mr Brown said: “I’m delighted to be invited to put up a new display in Hale End library.

“They have been a great supporter of the books and I hope people will take to them as they have the previous stories. I also hope people will continue to support great local assets – libraries and our bookshops.”

Albert is based on the writer's own pet, who is more than 80 years old and has been in Ian's family for more than 50 years.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Ian Brown at Jo's BookshopIan Brown at Jo's Bookshop (Image: Ian Brown)

He has received recognition from celebrities such as television presenter and former tortoise owner Jeremy Clarkson, who said: “I like this book. I like tortoises. What’s not to like?”

Danny Miller, the reigning I'm A Celebrity King and ex-Emmerdale star, is another famous face to be charmed by the tortoise. He posted videos of himself reading the books as a bedtime story to his son Albert, and described them as baby Albert's "favourite". 

There are now four books in the series about Albert, including Albert Upside Down, Albert and the Wind, Albert Supersize and now Albert in the Air.