THE ups and downs of organised table tennis as played in the Bromsgrove area over the past half century, is featured in a recently published book.

Entitled Bromsgrove, Redditch and District Table Tennis Association - The First 50 Years, it's the work of former player John Bromhead, from Marlbrook.

John, a parish councillor for Catshill and North Marlbrook, was urged to write the book following the success of his previous work, which detailed the history of Droitwich Golf Club.

The book, which took nine months to write and lists 957 players and their club affiliations, is well illustrated and charts the 50 years decade by decade, drawing on the memories of players, officials and information gleaned from newspaper reports.

John said he received invaluable help from the sport's governing body.

"I enjoyed writing it very much, and I met some very interesting people during my researches," he said.

Commenting on the role the sport has played in the community, and the fact that it is to receive a boost by being included for the first time in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, John said: "The association has fulfilled a need for leisure activities in north Worcestershire for 50 years by providing a forum for competition for people's leisure time."

The book's print run is just 150 and copies are selling fast.

They can be obtained from John at 19 Cottage Lane, Marlbrook, Bromsgrove, B60 1DU or from Ottakar's Book Store, High Street, or Bernie Leech 60 Illshaw Close, Winyates Green, Redditch.