A RENOWNED author, who saw some of her novels aired on TV, has died at the age of 94. 

Kathleen Peyton penned about 70 books as K.M Peyton and was first published aged just 15.

Mrs Peyton, who lived in Rookery Lane, North Fambridge, was well-known for writing teenage literature about ponies.

She died on December 19. 

Mrs Peyton was perhaps best known for writing the ‘Flambards’ stories, which spanned the period before and after the First World War.

Flambards was adapted into a 13-part ITV television series, starring Christine McKenna, Edward Judd, Frank Mills and Carol Leader, among others. 

Her 1977 young adult historical novel The Right-Hand Young Man was adapted into a film in 1985, released in Australian cinemas two years later.

For her work, Mrs Peyton received the 1969 Carnegie Medal from the Library Association and the 1970 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, decided by a panel of British children’s writers.

She was awarded an MBE in 2014 for services to children’s literature. 

Speaking to the Standard when she won the award she said: "Horses have been my obsession all my life. I always wanted one.

“They just fascinated me. I never intended to be an author. I just wrote stories for fun. It never occurred to me to make a living out of it.

“I was published very early on. Ever since then, I have had every book I have written published. I have never been turned down. I feel extremely lucky.”

Born Kathleen Herald, she married cartoonist Mike Peyton in 1950, who died in 2017.

She is survived by their daughters, Hilary and Veronica.