IN only its first week, the new Echo Memories book sold well over 500 copies. This made it the best-selling book in Ottakar's in Darlington's Cornmill Centre, outstripping JK Rowling's Harry Potter.

It is now being hailed as a publishing sensation, although admittedly only by this column, and negotiations with film-producers are well advanced. We're going to call the film Harry Potter and the Bulmer's Stone.

Many thanks to everyone who has bought a copy - extremely reasonably priced at £4.95.

Following on from this week's article on Cockerton Band, the new book, Memories of Darlington 3, contains a history of the cocoa revolution in Darlington - a late Victorian attempt to steer the working man off the beer and on to the less intoxicating delights of hot chocolate.

The book also contains a passage on James Hoggett, the founder of Cockerton Band. His Beethoven House still stands next to the United Reformed Church on Northgate. James was the son of George Hoggett, Darlington's "Father of Music" who led the band that rode and played on the train pulled by Locomotion No 1 on the opening day of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825.

Memories of Darlington 3 is available from The Northern Echo's Priestgate office or from Ottakar's. It is available by post for £5.70 from Reader Offers, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF.

Many thanks to everyone who has helped Echo Memories with stories of First World War Belgian refugees following last week's article. More will be revealed next week.

If you have any information or memories about Cockerton Band, Lingford's, Belgian refugees or any related subject, please write to Echo Memories at the above address, or e-mail chris.lloydrton Pr Seah