A Kidlington schoolboy wants people to splash out on his book about a dolphin to raise funds for Save the Children.

Umair Shahid, 10, from Oxford Road, thought up the story after visiting his grandmother in Turkey in the summer. Now his parents, Rowena, 31, and Rana, 40, are planning to sell the book, entitled My Blue Life Saver for £3.99, and give half the proceeds to Save the Children.

Mother-of-four Mrs Shahid, 31, said: "My husband and I helped Umair to write the book but it's his story - we are very proud of him."

Umair, a pupil at North Kidlington Primary School, was inspired to write the story after swimming with a dolphin at a waterpark near Izmir in Turkey. Now, 1,200 copies of the book have been printed in Lahore, Pakistan, and are being shipped to the UK to raise funds for the charity.

A total of £2 from the sale of each book will go to the charity, with the remaining amount covering printing and shipping costs.

Umair said: "I really enjoyed writing the book and it was great when the teacher told children at my school about it in assembly.

"I would like to write more books - I have already started on my next one called Bob the Bully."

Mrs Shahid added: "About 1,000 books will be arriving in the UK in the next few days and I am talking to as many schools and libraries as possible so they can take a copy.

"There is a message in the story that children should listen to their parents."

George Burrows, community fundraising executive for Save the Children, said: "This is a fantastic effort by Umair and his family, who have come up with this idea and followed it through right to the production stage.

"I'm sure this project will raise lots of money for Save the Children.It's a bright and colourful book and the story and illustrations will appeal to young children."

For more information, call Save the Children on 0121 558 0111 or send an email to tellastorybooksoxford@hotmail.co.uk