A VAST network of hidden tunnels under Old Town used by smugglers in Swindon’s past inspired an acclaimed author’s new novel.

Nicola Cornick devised a genre-hopping mystery that spans centuries and originates from Lydiard House for her book The Woman in the Lake.

The 54-year-old from Yorkshire moved near Shrivenham 20 years ago and hasn’t looked back.

She said: “I’ve become quite fond of my adopted home town. There’s a lot of Swindon’s history which isn’t well-known so I became a bit obsessed with researching it. You hear a lot about the railways but there’s so much more than that.

“I was fascinated by the smuggling trade in the 17th and 18th centuries – it’s hard to pin down what happened but there’s a lot of truth in the folklore about tunnels under Old Town and the legends of the Moonrakers. I believe that Swindon could have been a real hub for smugglers, the extent of that underground network was astonishing.

“When I told people I was writing a novel set in Swindon they didn’t think I was serious and asked why but I really like the town, it’s really vibrant and it has a rich heritage that I want to promote and spread the word about.”

Nicola’s novel follows two owners of a golden gown; Lady Isabella Gerard in Lydiard Park in 1765 orders her maid to destroy the garment but it later turns up on the dead body of a woman in the park’s lake, then Fenella Brightwell steals the gown in 1996 just before entering an abusive marriage which prompts her to wonder if the gown is cursed and decides to investigate its past.

Nicola describes her newest effort as page-turning psychological thriller and a twisty, thrilling tale of legends brought to life.

She said: “It’s a challenge to write stories like this because it’s like writing two books in one but you have to make sure that both narratives come together neatly within a limited word count. I love writing them, it’s great fun because you can bring any genre into either story and have a bit of everything, you’re not constrained to certain things, and it seems to work well.”

Her books are read around the world and have been translated into several other languages. The writer will talk about The Woman in the Lake at Lydiard House on Tuesday at 7.30pm at as part of the Swindon Spring Festival.

She added: “I’ve never talked about my book in the place it’s set before so this will be a special experience. Swindon is so full of history - the street names give a hint of its past wherever you go, the Railway Village and its cottages are lovely, and there are lot of people here who are passionate about protecting the town’s heritage.

“I’ll definitely write another novel set in Swindon because there are enough myths and legends about the town to keep me going for years to come!”

Tickets cost £7 (£6 concessions) at the door or from swindonspringfestival.co.uk