A tortoise has become a celebrity favourite receiving praise from the likes of TV petrolhead Jeremy Clarkson and Game of Thrones and Vicar of Dibley actor Clive Mantle.

Albert plays a starring role in Ian Brown's new books Albert Upside Down and Albert and the Wind.

Ian, who lives in Highams Park, is currently on a whirlwind tour of schools in east London promoting his book with readings also planned in libraries throughout Waltham Forest.

In his school visits, Ian explains Albert is a real tortoise, who is more than 80 years-old and has been part of his family for more than 50 years after being rescued by Ian's wife Millie.

He has visited Wells Primary School in Woodford Green and Oakhill Primary in Highams Park, and over the next few weeks, Ian will be dropping in on pupils at St Antony's Primary in Woodford Green, Ainslie Wood Primary in Chingford and, on March 3 - which is World Book Day - Handsworth Primary in Highams Park.

Readings are also planned at libraries throughout Waltham Forest plus library window displays.

This Is Local London: Ian Brown talking to pupils at Oakhill Primary in Highams Park Ian Brown talking to pupils at Oakhill Primary in Highams Park

Picturebook Albert is taking the celebrity world by storm too. Danny Miller, the reigning I'm A Celebrity King and ex-Emmerdale star is the latest famous face to be charmed by the tortoise.

With his fiancée Steph and baby son Albert, Danny posted a cute video of himself reading Albert And The Wind as a bedtime story to little Albert. The book was described by Danny as baby Albert's "favourite book" in the video.

Among those praising the adventures of illustrated Albert in his first adventure, Albert Upside Down, are funnymen Julian Clary and Paul Whitehouse, star of Youtube and Strictly Come Dancing Joe Sugg, former TOWIE star Lydia Bright, Game of Thrones and Vicar of Dibley actor Clive Mantle, Allo Allo actress Vicki Michelle and TV legends John Craven, Michael Aspel and Jeremy Clarkson.

Bright posted to her 1.3 million followers on Instagram that Albert Upside Down was a "new favourite" book for her daughter Loretta, while Clarkson, a former tortoise owner, said: "I like this book. I like tortoises. What's not to like?"

This Is Local London: Albert the tortoise with his owner Ian Albert the tortoise with his owner Ian

With his own pages on Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok and a website, Albert was soon gathering fans around the world and his appeal has grown since the release of the first book, illustrated by Eoin Clarke.

Ian said: "Albert seems to be taking all this in his stride. He has become a bit of a diva but that might just be his age. We've all been amazed at how his popularity has grown.

"He has fans across the UK, USA, Japan and Australia. It took me thirty years to get a publishing deal, trying in between TV work, but Albert was the inspiration I needed. It's a delight to visit the schools and libraries."

Visit AlbertTortoise.com for more information.