The Wombles return

Bloomsbury is reissuing all six of Elisabeth Beresford's Wombles books, which she created in 1968 and which have been out of print for almost 10 years. The relaunch begins in November, with the first book, The Wombles, introducing us to Beresford's eccentric, charming cast of characters
Photograph: Nick Price/Bloomsbury

The Wandering Wombles is also out in November, telling the story of how the furry friends are forced to leave their burrow beneath Wimbledon Common to search for a new home by the heavy lorries that thunder along nearby roads
Photograph: Nick Price/Bloomsbury

The Wombles at Work is out next January. Beresford, whom Bloomsbury tracked down by sending a letter to 'Elisabeth Beresford, creator of the Wombles, Alderney, the Channel Islands', said she was 'delighted' about the reissues
Photograph: Nick Price/Bloomsbury

In The Invisible Womble, the tubby Orinoco – inspired by Beresford's son – is encouraged to go out and help clear up the rubbish left behind on Wimbledon Common by humans. Tomsk, meanwhile, gets to grips with a vacuum cleaner
Photograph: Nick Price/Bloomsbury

The Wombles Go Round the World is out in March 2011 ...
Photograph: Nick Price/Bloomsbury

... as is The Wombles to the Rescue, in which the Wombles – motto: 'Make Good Use of Bad Rubbish' – return to Wimbledon Common
Photograph: Nick Price/Bloomsbury