A MUM has emerged from the cocoon of a 40-year-old phobia of creepy crawlies by writing a children’s book about them.

Former Cardiff and Vale College, Barry-based student Jane Cohen was so terrified of grubs, worms and insects that she could not even say their name out loud.

It affected the 45-year-old mum of two’s life so badly that she would not sit under trees or on the grass in case a pesky creepy crawly wandered her way.

Jane said: "To say I didn't like creepy crawlies is a complete understatement. I was so terrified of them that I can't even say the names of some of them and if I heard the word I would scream.

"I wouldn't sit under a tree or on bare grass and I could never ever buy a lettuce from a supermarket that hadn't been washed and treated with chemicals.

"It may sound crazy but it's the truth."

But Jane said she has almost cured her phobia after confronting her fears by writing a children's book about all the creepy crawlies she hates so much.

She said: "I came up with the idea to write a book about all different sorts of worms and other creepy crawlies that live alongside us every day of our life which might sound bizarre considering I loathe them.

"My daughter entered a competition for a mural in the school library and together we came up with a picture of book worms reading lots of books.

"I thought what great story it would be to have a family of really intelligent worms.

"My book is called Book Worms and is about a family of genius worms called the Wormsworth - their dad Professor Wormsworth, mum, Wilma, and twins Walter and Wurzel and their adventure to China where they discover ghastly ' Earth Dragon Soup' - not made of dragons by the way.

"The book has lots of different sorts of worms - glow worms, silk, wood worms and earthworms and other pesky creatures that children are normally fascinated with.

"Writing my book I had to force myself to go out in my garden and have a really good look at all the worms and other creepy crawlies and see how they moved and how they survived.

"Looking close up at lots of pictures of them at first wasn't easy but I somehow managed it. Over time it made me realise that they weren't so terrifying after all.

"I really hope children love this book – its quirky and good fun. I've turned the worms into real characters with personalities. It's got lots of true facts mixed with an exciting adventure.

"The Earth Dragon soup in the book is a real ancient tradition in China and actually made of earth worms.

"Writing Book Worms has really helped me face my phobia and the fact that worms have actually been around for far longer than human beings makes these humble little creatures pretty special."

Books Worms is available from Candyjarbooks.com