A GRITTY teen novel about people trafficking written with the help of students from Llandrindod High School has been launched,.

’A Bag For Life’ was written by former teacher and script writer Nick Yapp, along with 14 students over three years from their first term at the Llandrindod Wells secondary in Year 7.

"I’m not sure that this has ever been done before, but I’d love to do it again," said the writer, who along with his editor Ruby Lescott, journeyed back and forth between London and Llandrindod while the novel was in progress.

The novel sees teenager Azim forced out of Afghanistan by a drug cartel and ends with a dramatic shoot-out on the clifftops above Aberystwyth.

"The students were terrific. No holds barred with their criticism, and full of ideas as to where the book should go.

“This was a very happy project, thanks to the head of English at Llandrindod, Anwen Nicholls,” he added.

The novel features iconic tourist destinations such as the market town of Rhayader and the Rheidol Railway which runs to the Ceredigion coast.

Pupils Toby Colley, 15, and Tomos Powell, 14, said the whole process of working with a published author was "really fun and exciting" and "A really good opportunity to get your name out there."

Head of English Mrs Nicholls said: “We wholeheartedly thank Nick and Ruby for making the long journey from London to Llandrindod for the last three years.

“Our students, now in Year 10, have been very fortunate to be involved in this unique project.”

Head teacher Jane Asplin praised the pupils’ hard work in their sessions with Mr Yapp.

“I am thrilled that our students have had such a significant input into the development of Nick Yapp’s novel ’A Bag For Life’. The students involved have worked incredibly hard in their sessions with Nick for nearly three years. They are a real credit to Llandrindod High School.”

A Bag for Life by Nick Yapp was published in January by Acorn Independent Press.