A COMMUTER who wrote a novel on his phone while travelling to and from work has signed a publishing deal.

For the past 10 years, Joseph Burch spent his journeys from Brighton to London writing a story on a cracked iPhone.

He would sometimes travel for up to five hours a day, and decided this time could be better spent working on the book he had always hoped to write.

The majority of his work was written on cramped commuter trains that often did not have room to sit down, but he was so determined that he notes on his mobile.

Joseph, who now lives in Burgess Hill, said: "Slowly but surely the process began, I set myself daily targets and it took the best part of 10 years, but soon enough words turned into chapters and I got there in the end."

"From a young age it was always an ambition of mine to write a novel and have it published. I had an idea and years of commuting gave me the opportunity to write," he said.

He sent his manuscript to agents a few months ago and received positive feedback, he has now signed a publishing deal with The Book Guild Publishing Ltd.

The novel, Ollie and Ada, follows two characters who meet in a bereavement support class as they navigate the pressures of their new relationship while they both continue to grieve.

They attempt to encourage one another to heal but the delicate and challenging environment makes this a difficult task.

Joseph works as a quantity surveyor and, while he enjoys his job, felt that it was something he "needed to do'" to help others who are struggling.

"I lost my mum at an early age so I know how crushing grief can be," he said.

"It was very easy to put myself in the position of the characters, I found it almost therapeutic."

He hopes that his book can help others who are suffering from the loss of a loved one and "realise that happy endings do exist."

Ollie and Ada is available to pre-order now from the Waterstones and Amazon websites.