A new councillor has drawn on her experience of politics and working with victims of crime to pen her latest novel.

Shaida Mehrban, who was elected as a Labour councillor for Hounslow South in May, has just released her fifth book, Mother's Veil.

Its heroine Meera, the daughter of powerful Indian politician, is haunted by her mother's suicide which she witnessed as a young girl.

After entering into a loveless marriage of convenience, she seeks solace in the veils which were such a big part of her late mother's life.

Mrs Mehrban, a 53-year-old social worker, said she was inspired to write the book by the ongoing debate about the facial coverings and their place in society.

"We're living in a society where it (the wearing of veils) is such a big topic, which is in the news all the time," said the grandmother-of-three.

"For Meera, all she can think about is how important wearing the veil was for her mother and she thinks maybe wearing it is important for her too.

"When I spoke to other women some said the veil was a big part of who they were but others believed your character could only come from the heart."

Like her previous titles, Mother's Veil is influenced by her voluntary work as a translator for victims of crime, many of whose lives have been shadowed by past traumas.

But her latest work is the first to explore the world of politics, into which she only became immersed about two years ago.

"When I was writing the book I was going out canvassing and meeting new people. Meera herself isn't directly involved in politics but she hears the conversations going on around her and she's aware of the power her father wields," said the Labour councillor, of Great West Road, Heston.

Mrs Mehrban is already working on her next book, Through the Eyes of Osama, in which the lead character's traumatic memories are triggered when she meets the former Al Qaeda leader.

While her characters' suffering may suggest a masochistic streak in the author, the recurring theme of repressed memories is perhaps unsurprising given her challenging voluntary work.

"As an interpreter, I've met victims of rape and domestic violence, some of whom wrongly think that's part and parcel of being a woman," she said.

"Too many of these women think they're somehow to blame and it's important they realise that's not the case and support is available."

* Mother's Veil is available on Amazon as a paperback, for £7.98, and Kindle edition, for £2.99.