TWO Wyre Forest authors had their first taste of national success when their visions of the future were published in a star-studded BBC book.

Friends Keith Bullock and Geoff Anderson beat thousands of other entries from across the country to appear in the Book of the Future, the world's first democratically-edited book. Keith Bullock (left) and Geoff Anderson with copies of Book of the Future.

Keith, from Kidderminster, and Geoff, from Bewdley, joined a host of celebrities and aspiring writers when they submitted their futuristic articles via the BBCi website.

Their entries appeared on the site alongside contributions from famous names including Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, astronomer David Levy, rock star Brian May, comedian Dave Gorman and environment minister, Michael Meacher.

The articles by Keith, 60, and Geoff, 61, were selected through a democratic online voting process. The BBC invited the thousands of web users who logged onto the site to rate the submissions and vote for their favourite articles.

Ashley Highfield, director of new media and technology at the BBC, said: "These articles have been chosen, not by the BBC, but by our users. The Book of the Future represents democracy at its very best."

The brainchild of the late Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the book began life as a web-based experiment, in which online readers could exchange thoughts and predictions on life in the year 2020.

Keith, retired assistant principal of Dudley College, is no stranger to the sci-fi genre and has previously written a philosophical novel set in the future. He has also written a detective novel set in Kidderminster and numerous poems and short stories.

Keith, of St John's Avenue, Kidderminster, said: "I'm happiest writing short stories but submitted a range of articles to the BBC site. They all did well in the voting and it was one of the humorous visions that made it into the book."

Geoff, of Park Lane, Bewdley, has been writing musicals for 22 years and his productions have been performed at venues across the country. He said: "I'm pleased that Keith drew my attention to the site. In my case too I think it was humour that won over the voters."

Geoff, who recently retired as rector of Bewdley, added: "I tend to see the funny side in everything, especially the church."

Both men were delighted to be chosen for the book. Keith, who now works as an educational consultant, said: "Considering that only 76 articles made the final selection, it's remarkable that two friends from the same region both made it in."

The Book of the Future is available from all good bookshops or online from the BBC. To find out more about the project visit the Book of the Future website at www.bbc.co.uk/future