The debut novel of retired Oxford teacher Brian Martin is set to raise eyebrows among staff and pupils at his former school.

Mr Martin, 68, pictured, of Chalfont Road in North Oxford, taught English for 40 years at Magdalen College School, until 2001.

Now he has written his first novel North, and the book, published next month, tells the story of a precocious student at an Oxford school who begins a three-way relationship with a beautiful woman teacher, and the married but bisexual Head of Physics, before "sexual anarchy" ensues.

Mr Martin, a happily married father-of-four, insists that the novel his first is not based on any incidents that occurred during his time as a teacher at the school in East Oxford.

"Everyone writes to a certain extent from experience but North is complete fiction," said Mr Martin.

"I think the book will probably be quite a talking point among the staff and the pupils, and I think they will be startled that such a stuffy old figure could produce such a story."

The Hertford College graduate, who has also worked as a lecturer in modern fiction at Oxford University, has now lived in the city for almost 50 years.

Mr Martin has been awarded the MBE for services to English Literature and has reviewed novels for national newspapers for more than 30 years.

"I stopped teaching after 40 years at the same school and I felt like I had my freedom after serving a commuted life sentence," he said.

"I thought it was about time I tried to write something myself. So far, the book has been very well received."

An invitation-only launch party for North is being held at Quod, in High Street, Oxford, on Sunday, April 9.

It is being published on Friday, April 7, priced £12.99.