A Canterbury novelist has seen his debut novel published, and the book centres on the after effects of flatulence at the height of government.

Evgeny Gridneff insists his book, A Stink in the Tale, follows in the best tradition of British toilet humour, which includes the likes of Tom Sharpe and Spike Milligan.

The 69-year-old spent around six years working on the book before finding a publisher.

He said: “I just thought about what would happen if the passing of wind and it eventually led to the downfall of the government.

“It’s tightly written and full of crude jokes, but there is something behind it all.”

Mr Gridneff, who lives with his wife, Sally, in Carriage Mews near the West station, said he did not base his Prime Minister on any real politicians, and he avoided making party political references – except in the case of a character who is a Lib Dem.

Growing up the son of two Russian circus performers who toured the UK, he enjoyed an upbringing as rich and colourful as one could hope to find.

His early years were spent touring around the UK, living in various caravans and theatrical digs.

Between the ages of eight and nine, he toured Europe in a bus with six chimpanzees for company, starting at a new school every couple of weeks.

“I must have gone to well over 100 schools as a child,” he said.

“Then the chimps became my surrogate brothers and sisters.

“Most of my reading matter came from The Dandy, The Beano and The Beezer, which my grandmother sent me from England.”

Away from writing, Mr Gridneff has worked variously as a salesman for Burton’s, a cleaner at St James’s Palace, a travel agent, the stage manager of a Soho strip joint, and a script editor and producer for the BBC.

To find out more about Mr Grindeff and A Stink in the Tale, visit astinkinthetale.wordpress.com.

Alternatively, visit the website of his publisher, Telos, at www.telos.co.uk.