Over hill and dale

Continuing where "The Other Side of the Dale" ended, Gervase Phinn begins his second year as a schools inspector in Yorkshire.

His colourful cast of characters are now becoming firm favourites - the mostly mad staff at County Hall, the teachers who range from saints to stand-ins, and of course the children themselves who find ways of embarrassing school inspectors with innocent ease.

Gervase's colleagues rag him unmercifully about his faraway look whenever the name of Christine Bentley of WinneryNook Nursery and Primary School is mentioned, and he realises it is time to take action - but how to put the question?

Gervase Phinn has an extraordinary talent to entertain, and "Over Hill and Dale" will make you laugh out loud.