TELEVISION stars have lined up to feature in a new cartoon based on an Abingdon author’s children’s book series.

Eggbert’s Adventures, written by Paul Gustafson, will be transformed into a film for DVD next year.

A host of stars including Oxford-born Pirates of the Caribbean star Michael Berry Jr and The Railway Children actress Jenny Agutter have signed up perform voice-overs, said Mr Gustafson.

The father-of-one, 59, said: “It’s a very interesting line-up and it will be interesting to see when we shoot the film next year.

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“It’s been very hard work, it’s been incredibly hard work. It’s not been an easy ride but it’s been very enjoyable writing the books.

“It will be a dream come true when it’s started. It will be great, it will be very exciting with a DVD.”

Mr Gustafson, who teaches at Abingdon’s Larkmead School, began writing the book series after having dreams about main character Eggbert in 2002.

His books follow the adventures of the egg, who lives in Eggland, along with his friend Shelley, as well as troublesome characters The Bad Eggs.

They are aimed at youngsters between two and six and are written in rhyming couplets.

Mr Gustafson said other names confirmed for the first 87-minute DVD include Kate Harbour, who has voiced Bob the Builder characters, as well as former athlete Geoff Capes.

Mr Gustafson said he has received incredible support from the public since he began writing. He even ran his ideas past his friend of 30 years, Inspector Morse creator Colin Dexter, before he wrote the series.

He also said he received a letter from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s secretary after his books were sent to Clarence House for Prince George. Mr Gustafson said of Eggbert: “He has been my little baby that I have cherished and nurtured and brought up.

“Eventually this little egg will stand on it’s own two feet and be part of the big wide open world.

After writing the first book, illustrator Ray Mutimer, who drew pictures for the Postman Pat books, television character Charlie Chalk and the Rupert and Friends magazine, agreed to illustrate Mr Gustafson’s series.

Chippenham-based egg distributor Stonegate featured Eggbert on its free-range egg boxes appearing in Asda stores. In 2004 Mr Gustafson wrote Eggbert’s Adventures at the Fair, based on Oxford’s St Giles Fair and an Abingdon fair and then took inspiration from Hinksey Park when writing Eggbert’s Adventures at the Park.

Four years later, Mr Gustafson was approached by Royal Mail and wrote Eggbert’s Adventures Delivering the Mail for Royal Mail Education.

Mr Gustafson said: “I want to get children more interested in picking up a book and reading it and getting something enjoyable out of it.

“My emphasis has always been placed on the children. It’s not what it can do for me, it’s what the characters can do for the kids.”

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