CHIPPING Campden leukaemia sufferer Gordon Greenall has not let his illness get in the way of his writing.

Mr Greenall of Park Road, Campden, has just produced his second book of poetry since being diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukaemia almost four years ago.

"Basically it makes you very tired and affects your white blood cells, which means you are to infection," said Mr Greenall.

The book, Cool is the Reaping, contains 74 poems written by the 62-year-old former firefighter and will be launched at a special poetry recital in Campden Town Hall on Friday, April 4 at 5pm.

The poems feature local places and characters, including many from Campden and Yubberton - the name locals give to Ebrington.

"I'm a local man, born and bred. One of the poems is about the Ladbroke Brothers, Charlie and Lawrence. They were Chipping Campden people and a lot of the older people will remember them as they were characters," said Mr Greenall.

Money raised from the sale of the book, which costs £7.99, will go to the LINC leukaemia centre at Cheltenham General Hospital, which Mr Greenall has to attend every three months.

He said he is hoping to raise at least £2,000 from sales of his new book. His last book, Emily and Other Poems, raised £1,300 for the LINC in September 2005.

Mr Greenall, who retired from Long Marston MoD base seven years ago, has written poetry all his life.

"I didn't start saving until I got a computer. One day someone said you should publish them. I already have enough for another book," he added.