WIZARDS of witticism from York have been plunged into the international media spotlight as the unsung heroes behind a book of amusing adages.

Former student mates Tom Sharp, Andy Milson and Thom Craigen, who produce :here magazine from the Fishergate base of their company Stone Soup, spent years dreaming up a host of humorous one-liners, which they touted to publishers, but then put into print themselves under the title 100% True!

The book includes such gems as, "Everyone can remember a day when they put their school uniform and then realised it was Saturday" and "Badgers look really heavy".

But soon they found their words boomeranging back to them in the ubiquitous globetrotting emails which bombard in-boxes around the world.

And not only were their quirky quotes unattributed, but they then started to crop up - again unattributed - in the national media and on radio.

Andy, who teamed up with his two colleagues while at Keele University, said: "We were getting emails from Singapore and the States which used our material, but didn't mention us at all.

"Just before Christmas, Chris Moyles and Sara Cox gave us a plug on their shows and that started the ball rolling."

The £2.99 book broke into the York branch of Waterstones' top ten sellers and the firm is now looking at making it a core title, which means it could soon be on sale at its shops across the country.

Andy said: "It's all been a great boost to us. A lot of people who read the magazine have seen the coverage and have been getting in touch to say 'well done guys'."

- 100% True! is available at selected bookshops or by emailing info@stone-soup.co.uk

Updated: 11:21 Thursday, February 21, 2002