IT is not the next Dan Brown or J K Rowling page turner — but Advances in Fire Retardant Material, a book by two Bolton lecturers is expected to take the literary world by storm.

The hotly awaited sequel to their first offering, Fire Retardant Materials, has just gone on sale.

And University of Bolton professors Dick Horrocks and Dennis Price, are hoping copies will fly off the shelves as academics and researchers grapple to get their hands on a copy of the book — which costs £170.

Mr Horrocks, a Professor of Textile Science, said: “It is a follow-on addition to our 2001 book, Fire Retardant Materials, which Woodhead Publishing describes as their best-selling technical text book.

“It can be a long haul, putting a book like this together. This one took us two years, but it is a comprehensive account of how fire retardancy has moved on during the 21st century.

“We see it as being as relevant to industry as it is for academia. This new text together with our previous one makes an ideal set for researchers and technologists working in this fascinating and expanding field for which Bolton is renowned.”

Mr Horrocks and Mr Price a Professor of Fire Chemistry, edited the book which also includes contributions from internationally-recognised subject-specialists from across the world.

The two are from the university’s Centre for Materials Research and Innovation which is a leading research department in textiles.

The department is currently pioneering a revolutionary light-weight bullet-proof vest for the armed forces.

The duo are described as “distinguished editors” and the book as an “essential reference for producers, manufacturers, retailers”.

Advances in Fire Retardant Materials reviews advances in material retardancy, addresses key environmental issues, examines fire-testing, regulations and the challenges involved, and discusses applications in areas such as automotive materials and military fabrics.