Author Peter James returns to Sussex with his 57 animals

Author Peter James has moved back to Sussex with his 57 animals after eight years on the island of Jersey.

James, who was born in Brighton, told BBC Radio Sussex he had moved to a home near Pulborough in West Sussex.

The Roy Grace author said: "It was quite hysterical actually, we had this convoy of vehicles on the ferry because under Jersey ferry law you can only have five animals in a vehicle. Those five animals could be five guinea pigs or five giraffes. There's no differential.

"So we had budgies in one car, we had guinea pigs in another car. We had the chief of police of Jersey, Robin Smith, who used to be assistant chief in Sussex, drive a car with three rabbits in for us."

However, James said he "reluctantly" had to leave his "loved" pygmy goats behind with the new owners as he was told they may not not survive the trip.

"But I'm sure we'll get something big to replace them soon," he said.

"We're a sucker for animals and also I'm a patron of the RSPCA down here, so I'm constantly getting phone calls."

The author says he loves animals because caring for them is "grounding".

"I write fairly dark stuff, so it's actually lovely to go out in the morning and hand-feed the pygmy goats or the rabbits little bits of carrot and lettuce," James added.

The author said he moved to his new home in West Sussex because it had land for his "huge and expanding menagerie", and was quiet.

James, who has called Brighton, Henfield and Ditchling his home in the past, has based several of his books in the region.

In his newest book, John Grebble is Gone, the main character lives in Hangleton in Brighton.

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