WHEN Inspector Morse author Colin Dexter killed off the detective in his last novel The Remorseful Day, fans would ask him if he had any more tales in his bottom drawer.

Following the irritable inspector’s demise in 1999 the Oxford novelist’s answer was always no.

But his generous spirit allowed at least two other writers to pen new stories featuring the much-loved fictional sleuth.

Following Mr Dexter’s death in March last year, aged 86, Dr Antony Richards, chairman of the Inspector Morse Society, revealed he had written a new Morse novel, Dead Man’s Walk, with encouragement from Mr Dexter.

Now fellow author Susan Masters, also a friend of Mr Dexter, is reminding readers that she too wrote a yarn featuring the inspector, although it is only a short story, entitled The Last Memory of Inspector Morse.

The mum-of-one said: “Colin read the story and said it was charming and technically very good – he said I should publish it.”

Mrs Masters, 58, who lives in County Longford, Ireland, with husband Nick, said she first met the author in 1999 after writing him a fan letter about The Remorseful Day.

When she and her husband were in Oxford they called in on Mr Dexter and, after a warm welcome, they soon became friends.

Mrs Masters said: “When we visited Oxford we would go to Browns restaurant or to the Chinese in Summertown.

“We became friends over the years with Colin and his wife Dorothy and he would encourage us to write.”

“Colin didn’t like going to noisy pubs because he had problems with his hearing.”

Mrs Masters first published her story on Amazon Kindle in 2012 and copies sell for 99p.

The tale has a surreal premise in which Inspector Morse meets his creator.

Mrs Masters added: “It’s quite Marmite – some readers like it while others hate it.”

She added that she supported the Inspector Morse Society’s plan to raise funds for a statue to be built in North Oxford in Mr Dexter’s memory.

The Colin Dexter Memorial Fund has been established and the statue could cost £50,000.

Mrs Masters said: “I think a statue would be a fitting tribute.”