A LEOMINSTER author who hoped to be the first to launch a novel from a nuclear bunker in the town says she has been banned from doing so by the property owner.

Jen Green's novel, A Small Nuclear Fallout, is set during the Cold War and tells the story of three women who join the Greenham Common anti-nuclear protest.

The inspiration for the humourous novel came from Jen's days as a journalist in Wales during the early 1980s, when all local authorities were offered a grant from the government to build underground nuclear fallout shelters.

She planned to hold a unique launch event at Leominster's nuclear bunker which is located beneath Arkwright Court – a sheltered retirement living scheme of 35 one-bedroom apartments owned and operated by social housing provider Stonewater.

But she says Stonewater no longer wish to be involved with the launch – which means her own plans have come to a halt.

She said: "I love Leominster and I love living here and I want it to go big for the town. But they have now said they do not want to be involved so I cannot use it.

"I offered to donate £100 to Stonewater and if we had the signing there I would have paid for refreshments.

"The decision for me not to be able to use it is as stupid as the people in the book and I cannot understand the mentality."

However, in a statement, Stonewater said it did not receive the necessary information to progress with the plans.

The statement said: "We were more than happy to help Jen Green with the launch of her book and our manager of the scheme had several meetings with Jen to agree her requirements for the event which was originally planned for October 15.

"We also offered to organise a light buffet for 100 guests and at Jen’s request, arrange for a press photographer to take advance pictures of her with her new book."

It was hoped the event would also generate a little bit of publicity for Arkwright Court, the statement said, which provides much-needed affordable retirement housing in the community. "Unfortunately, Jen did not provide us with the information we needed to organise the event and we couldn’t progress arrangements any further."

Jen, whose novel Whatever Happened to Trixie Skyrme is being adapted for TV, added that many people, including the housing provider, were unaware the shelter even existed until now.

The book is available to buy in Fletchers Newsagent in Leominster as well as online at Amazon, Waterstones, Barnes and Noble, Blackwells and WHSmith.