A Worcestershire-based author has released his fourth book in a series of crime mysteries focusing on "history and folklore" on a local canal.

Andy Griffee's Devil's Den follows journalist, Jack Johnson as he explores the canals and rivers of England in his narrowboat Jumping Jack Flash.

The latest book is set on the Staffs & Worcs canal at Kinver and draws heavily on local history and folklore.

“I was particularly struck by a beautiful stretch of canal which follows the course of the River Stour for about two and a half miles north of Kinver,” said Andy.

He was exploring the towpath with his Border terrier Eddie, who also features in the books, when he came across a cave in a sandstone cliff called The Devil’s Den.

“I read that it had been constructed as a boathouse for the Foley family when they lived at Prestwood Hall,” Andy explained.

“A small oak door has sealed off its entrance onto the water, but I was very intrigued by its diabolic name.”

One theory suggests that the cave’s title came from navvies who built the canal and who enjoyed a fearsome reputation for drinking and poaching.

Andy’s research also included an underground visit to the nearby Drakelow tunnels which were built as a World War II aircraft parts factory before becoming a nuclear shelter during the Cold War.

“I had to learn all about tarot card reading and seances for the plot,” Andy said.

“My hero, Jack, is quite a heavy whisky drinker so it makes a change for him to worry about spirits of a different kind.”

Further research revealed a row between British Waterways and various canal user-groups when it decided to block the cave’s entrance with a door. The organisation said it was designed to protect a bat colony and also prevent drink and drug users from putting themselves at risk by trying to gain access.

Devil's Den is Andy's fourth book in his successful Johnson & Wilde series of crime mysteries.

Other books in the series include Canal Pushers, which is set in the Midlands, River Rats (Bath) and Oxford Blues, which is set on the River Isis.

Devil’s Den is available to pre-order now via Amazon for Kindle and will be released on February 23.