FORMER politician Ann Widdecombe was guest at a Kingsteignton care group’s creative writing session.

Ann, well known as a journalist, author and political commentator, joined the KingsCare creative writing session at the Avenue Church in Newton Abbot.

She listened to members reading their work aloud and participated in writing exercises set by tutor Debbie Jeffery.

Ann, who has agreed to become patron of the group, said: ‘I thoroughly enjoyed it.’

As an established author, she explained in her presentation that she had always intended to be an author, and completed her first novel Forest Trek when she was 12.

She said: ’It was very exciting, full of plane journeys, hostile natives and swamps.

‘None of the characters survived.’

Despite producing an unpublished novel and 12 short stories between leaving university and entering politics, Ann found the long hours as an MP meant she had to postpone her literary ambitions.

She explained: ‘All night sittings meant finishing at midnight was an early night.’

On leaving the Shadow Cabinet, Ann, who lives on Dartmoor, could concentrate on her first ambition.

In a typical act of bravado, she told the world she was writing a novel so she was obliged to produce one, The Clematis Tree.

Her most ambitious and favourite work to date is An Act of Treachery, set in France during the First World War.

She has also written The Dancing Detective, an amusing murder mystery, loosely based on her Strictly Come Dancing appearances with Anton Du Beke.

She is currently working on a non-fiction book, Poor Bloody Men, about the changed role of men in modern society.

Explaining her approach to writing fiction, she said: ‘I write solely for other people, to entertain.

‘There’s very little of me or my experiences in it. If you make it too personal it ends up as it does in real life: wrong.’

Her autobiography, being factual, was personal and she says, ‘written for myself’.

Maggie Bonnell, manager of KingsCare, was delighted by Ann’s visit.

She said: ‘KingsCare’s creative writing group is one of our many projects to support local people and improve their lives.

‘It’s important to us that the opportunity to write and enjoy the ability to put experiences into words is available to all.

‘However, we need support to keep the group open.’

New members are always welcome to join the group which meets on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:30pm.

KingsCare League of Friends began life in 1997 as an idea of the GPs at Kingsteignton Medical Practice. They employed a receptionist for a few hours a week to recruit some volunteers to bring patients into the surgery for appointments.

In became a registered charity in 2003 and independently employed a coordinator for 20 hours week.

In 2012, the charity was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the first group in Teignbridge to do so.

KingsCare now has 17 members of paid staff and more than 100 volunteers.