ONE of south Shropshire’s oldest estate agents and a respected school near Ludlow are joining forces to help relaunch a popular book about the county’s literary landscape.

‘Nearest Earthly Place to Paradise’ is published by Ludlow-based Merlin Unwin Books and the first edition was a sell-out in Britain and overseas.

It has now been reprinted with the support of Nock Deighton estate agents and Moor Park School who are jointly sponsoring the book.

Ross D’Aniello, head of Nock Deighton’s country homes department, said he was delighted to be involved with the project.

“One of our key values as a business is to promote Shropshire as a wonderful place to live,” he said.

“We see one of our roles as an estate agent in Shropshire is to act as ambassadors for the county and to help promote it to people who live elsewhere in the UK.

“This book is a real celebration of Shropshire so we are really pleased to be able to play a part in helping it to be a success.”

Moor Park School is due to host a launch event, featuring readings from the book, on Friday, May 12.

Charlie Minogue, Moor Park headmaster, said the school is pleased to be collaborating with the estate agent.

“I think we share similar values, in terms of our commitment to the Shropshire community and natural environment, which are so well illustrated in the book,” he said.

“The school has a proud literary heritage and we are looking forward to celebrating that at the launch event of the reprinted book in the spring.

“We are hoping to have a range of people, including present pupils at the school, to read excerpts from the book which promises to be an inspiring evening.”

Karen McCall, of Merlin Unwin Books, said she wanted to thanked Nock Deighton and Moor Park for supporting the book.

Anyone interested in attending the launch event at Moor Park School can call the school’s registrar on 01584 876061 or email head@moorpark.org.uk