A former Ilkley woman has drawn on her own experiences of living with a rare genetic illness to pen her first novel.

Anna Lickley, 38, has neurofibromatosis 2, a condition which causes tumours to grow on her nervous system.

She was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 15, while she was a pupil at Ilkley Grammar School, and is now profoundly deaf and severely visually impaired.

She plans to return to Ilkley on December 3 to officially launch her book, Catch It Anytime You Can. All profits from the book will go to The Neuro Foundation, a charity supporting people with neurofibromatosis (NF).

But the moving story, which tells the tale of independent spirit Nicola and her ongoing hope through serious illness, is also set to offer readers an insight into illness and disability.

Miss Lickley, who lives in Bingley, said: “It is based on the true story of my own experiences with acquired illness and disability. I like to use humour in my writing and readers have told me that the book is very funny.

“It is ultimately a story about how people adapt to very challenging circumstances and it looks at the essence of hope. Readers have commented it has changed their whole perception of disability.”

After her diagnosis in 1991, Miss Lickley battled to continue her studies through Ilkley Grammar and Sheffield University, despite having to undergo seven operations to remove damaging tumours and entirely losing her hearing.

She went on to set up a business teaching sign language and deaf awareness.

The Neuro Foundation says more than 25,000 in the UK are affected by NF, and every day a baby is born in the country with the incurable condition.

The charity says it is caused by mutation or “spelling mistake” in one of the genes.

The Foundation provides support and information, including a network of specialist medical advisors.

Miss Lickley’s family have also done their bit to raise money for NF charity. Her mother and sister still live in Ilkley She will host a book launch party at the Ilkley Moor Vaults, Stockeld Road, on Tuesday December 3, starting at 6.30pm.

The book, costing £6.99, will be available from bookstores including The Grove Bookshop in Ilkley, and online at Amazon.