HOME under the Hammer stae Martin Roberts has released a new book to help children struggling in lockdown.

The host of the popular BBC TV property auction show, originally from Warrington, has teamed up with legendary children’s TV entertainer Basil Brush to create a narrated and partially animated version Sadsville, a version from his Herman and the Magical Bus to The Villes series.

In aims to help with the pressure on children’s mental heath and for schools trying to find ways to help children continue their learning while at home.

The recording has just been released on YouTube for general viewing, and is also being sent out this week with an accompanying home study pack free to all primary schools in the UK, with a view to them passing it on to their pupils.

Martin, a former Bridgewater High School pupil, said: “I have my own kids aged 10 and 13 so I understand the pressures that lockdown has put on young people.”

“The Villes is a series of magical and whimsical books aimed at children aged 6 to 10. In Windyville it’s always windy, in Tiredsville everyone is always tired, in Latesville everyone is always late, in Sadsville everyone is always sad...and so on...and the reader has to work out why.

“The books in general encourage problem solving and fire the imagination in readers of all ages. Sadsville in particular encourages children to question their own emotions and ‘think outside the box’ as to why they may be struggling with unhappiness. It helps them find ways to feel happier and to reach out for support if they need it.”

Warrington Guardian:

Basil Brush said “It was a booming pleasure to be part of Mr Martin’s wonderful book, to read his lovely story and help the NSPCC and their Childline service at the same time.”

Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC added: “Currently, we are hearing from children in their thousands who have been cut off from vital support networks such as school and friends, and that has increased their feelings of loneliness and vulnerability. However, there are many more out there who are suffering in silence, which is why we are doing all we can to let children know we are still here for them.”

“Using Basil Brush to narrate Sadsville is a unique and entertaining approach to letting even more children know how they can contact Childline if things are tough, and I am confident it will be very successful.”

Roberts wrote Sadsville in support of the invaluable work of the NSPCC and Childline. It contains an emotional well-being self-help guide and details of how to contact Childline. It forms part of the campaign to help children’s mental well-being that is the mainstay of the authors own charity The Martin Roberts Foundation which aims to give a free copy of the physical book to every child in year 4 in the UK.

So far more than 30,000 books have been distributed, with more to come.