A former paratrooper's leap into a new career is proving an instant success.

Adrian Flanagan's first novel, Cobra, is selling well in outlets all over the county.

Mr Flanagan, 40, of Chinnor Hill, set his crime thriller in the world of security and computer hacking and has scenes in Australia, the Philippines and the United States.

He was in the Parachute Regiment before and then an osteopath before developing on-line shopping sites for supermarkets. He is now a business consultant.

Mr Flanagan, whose wife, Louise, is expecting their second child, took part in the Portsmouth to Havana leg of the 2000 Round-the-World yacht race. He has started writing his second novel, Sphinx. He said: "It's a great thrill having a novel published and to see it selling well.