The tireless Rumpole has been wrenched away from the comforts of the Old Bailey to a care home in Sussex.

Author Sir John Mortimer has moved the world's best-loved barrister to a fictional home near Haywards Heath in his latest book Rumpole And The Primrose Path.

Rumpole survives "a dramatic failure in the ticker department" after an encounter with a particularly ferocious judge, only to find himself stuck in the Primrose Path home, where something fishy is going on involving other convalescents.

He unravels the mystery, exonerates the obvious suspect and soon finds himself back at Four Equity Court attempting to resuscitate his career.

Sir John is coming to Hove to sign his new book of short stories and explain why the literary creation is resting his case in Sussex.

Sir John, who lives in The Chilterns, said he chose Sussex because of its metropolitan reputation as a sleepy backwater.

He said: "Rumpole was on his last legs at the end of the last book and went to a nursing home at an unspecified location in Sussex.

"He escapes from it and solves a mystery."

The latest book is the 32nd in the series, which was televised in 1978 starring the late Leo McKern as Rumpole.

Sir John said: "I definitely see myself in Rumpole. He says what I think but when I say it I sound Left and trendy.

"When Rumpole says the same thing he sounds crusty and Conservative and can get away with it because he's taken more seriously.

"I don't know if this will be the last Rumpole book - I'm keeping it open."

Sir John, who will dramatise four of the stories on Radio 4 in spring, is currently writing a book about "all the good things in life".

He said he has a lot of good news to write about.

His daughter Emily Mortimer is not only a successful film actress but is getting married in their village church in January, to an American actor.

Sir John will visit The Old Market in Hove tonight at 6.30pm. Tickets are available at City Books, Western Road, Hove, and cost £5 including a glass of wine.