A RETIRED geography teacher has written a book telling how different people have visited one of the North-East's most beautiful areas over the centuries and given their impressions about it.

Mike Rudd, who used to teach at Carmel School, in Darlington, produced his hard-back volume, The Discovery of Teesdale, after many visits to the dale and months of research.

One person he features is Thomas Amory, who in 1760 published a novel called The Life and Times of John Buncle Esquire. He was reputed to be the first author to describe natural scenery.

Mr Rudd said: "He didn't name Teesdale. But he described features like High Force and Cauldron Snout without calling them by their own names, so it was obvious he was in the area."

There are also chapters on better-known writers such as William Hutchinson.

A section is devoted to Sir Walter Scott, who spent time in the dale while composing his epic poem Rokeby, and there is a piece on Charles Dickens, who stayed there while he was gathering material for Nicholas Nickleby.

Mr Rudd, who lives in Darlington, did some of the research for the book while studying for a masters degree at Durham University. It is published by Phillomore and Co and costs £20.

Mr Rudd has arranged to do a book signing at Waterstones, in Darlington, on Saturday, October 6.