A BOOK detailing the history of Whitworth Park Colliery from 1836 to 1855 has been written by Bob Abley, from Spennymoor.

Mr Abley, a former teacher and book antiquarian, began the work in the 1970s.

He said: "Members of my family on both sides worked in the mines around Spennymoor.

"I've always been interested in local history and a friend saw the manuscript of this book and said I should publish it, so I did."

Mr Abley is currently working on a second volume of the book, which describes the history of Whitworth Park until it closed in the 1970s.

Whitworth Park Colliery 1836-1855 is priced £4.99 and is available from newsagents in Spennymoor, the county library and Ottakar's in Darlington.