A former shoe shop manager who got a degree aged 70 has published his first book aged 84.

Kenneth Shepherd, of Meadway, Maldon, spent a year working on Streets Ahead, which explores art involving town designs.

Mr Shepherd worked as a shoe shop manager in Carnaby Street, London, before retiring to Maldon aged 65.

Shortly afterwards he decided to study for a degree through the Open University.

Mr Shepherd graduated with a humanities degree specialising in art and art history.

“Kids of my generation finished school and they went to work,” he said.

“There was no question of going to university or anything like that.

“I was a child during the war and I was undereducated. When I first retired I decided to study with the Open University and when I was 70 I graduated.”

Mr Shepherd began writing his book while he was a carer for his wife Pamela who has Alzheimer’s and now lives in a care home.

His book focuses on the work of artists who paint town scenes.

Known as “townscapes” they are often described as the depiction of an urban scene.

He said: “I have always been a ‘townie’ as opposed to a rural person and I have always been interested in art and gone to art galleries.

“I kept seeing ‘townscapes’ in art but I couldn’t find a book specifically about them.

“It is a fairly light read and not too serious.”

A townscape, or scene depicts the visual appearance of a town or an urban area. It can be through the buildings, features and roads.

Publishers Austin Macauley have been so pleased with the book they have commissioned Mr Shepherd to write another.

The book is available in hardback and paperback and as an E-book and can be purchased at Waterstones or Amazon.

It goes on sale on March 30. Copies can be pre-ordered online at www.waterstones.com or www.amazon.co.uk