A NEW children's book with an environmental message has been created by West Wight Timebank.

Tintom and the Stripey Jumper tells the story of a cute non-earthling who stumbles over plastic bottles and other human detritus left in his path.

Being a tin can who doesn’t easily bend, Tintom can’t get up.

Help is on its way in the form of Elderly Gentleman and Meg the Mechanic, but it is the striped jumper which presents a clever twist to the expected ‘pick up your litter’ message.

The book, written by Dayzee Chain and with attractive illustrations by Cheryl Mays, was the brainchild of the West Wight Timebank, a community organisation which swaps skills, distributes near-use-by-date food and offers friendship and support.

They meet for weekly ‘bring and buy’ sessions on a Friday afternoon at Freshwater Village Hall.

It was one such community activity that provided the inspiration for the story.

“We at the Timebank, and the Oasis group at Freshwater Methodist Church, were knitting children’s stripey jumpers as fundraisers and I suddenly thought ‘What if a jumper gave more than just warmth as soon as it was put on,” said Sally Gaeta.

“What if they made people see how the world could look without pollution.”

The hand knitted jumpers, ranging in size from six months to nine years, books and even stripey hats, are available for sale from Sally at info@WWTB.org.

The West Wight Timebank meets for tea, chat and activities on Fridays, 1pm to 3pm.