An Oxfordshire publisher is making a stand against Internet giant Amazon by supplying independent bookshops with an early 'local' edition of a book expected to become a mass-market seller.

Jon Carpenter, of the Wychwood Press in Charlbury, is publishing a semi-autobiographical novel written by Betty Timms, younger sister of Flora Thompson, author of Lark Rise to Candleford, the fictionalised story of her childhood in late 19th-century Oxfordshire.

Lark Rise recently saw an upsurge in popularity after a TV series featuring Dawn French.

Flora was originally encouraged to become a writer by the success of Betty’s children's book, The Little Grey Men of the Moor, published in 1926.

Betty's manuscript lay dormant in the author's belongings after she died. It was inherited by Henry Westbury, who lives in West Oxfordshire.

Flora's biographer, the Oxfordshire writer Christine Bloxham, describes Betty’s story as "a charming complement" to Lark Rise.

Mr Carpenter said: "For many years, no one seems to have realised its potential.

"In September, we'll be publishing a mass-market edition for sale nationwide, and we expect it to sell in thousands."

Meanwhile, he is releasing a limited edition, available only to local bookshops, museums and tourist outlets.

"We are making a point of not making it available to Amazon at this stage, specifically so that ordinary high street shops can benefit and not be undercut by a company that pays no tax in this country and can avoid the overheads the rest of us pay."

It is available in Blackwells, Broad Street, Oxford; the Book House, Summertown; Cole's Bookstore, Bicester; Church Green Books, Witney; the Woodstock Bookshop and Banbury Tourist Information Centre. To order direct, call 01608 819117 (£9.99 post-free).