THE first comprehensive history of Stourport since the 1930s has been launched in the town.

Based on oral history from established residents, the book is the result of a two-year collaboration between Stourport holidaymaker Anne Bradford and Mike Kettle, who has lived in the town for 16 years.

The short but fascinating story of Stourport since it was founded by entrepreneur James Brindley in the 1770s is largely told in eye-catching detail from descendants of water gipsies, boat builders, shopkeepers, publicans, caravan site managers and others.

It is the only English town owing its existence to the canals and within 50 years had become a busy inland port, an industrial centre and, especially after the arrival of the railways in 1862, a popular holiday town thanks to its Georgian architecture and riverside setting.

Until fairly recently Stourport had a power station exporting electricity to three counties, an enormous iron works and the largest tannery outside London, as well as the Larch Lap timber factory and the Bond Worth carpet plant.

But the bigger picture has not obscured quirkier details. St Michael's parish church, on which work started in 1887 by an incompetent local builder, was never finished and had to be demolished after it was damaged by storms in 1976. The sorry saga was complete when the satirical magazine Private Eye accused the vicar of selling off organ parts.

Another landmark which met a sticky end was the town hall, which stood on the corner of Bridge Street and New Street. One Saturday afternoon in August 1973, the entire 19th century edifice just fell down, remarkably injuring no-one.

And the surrounding, much older villages such as Wilden - the childhood home of former prime minister Stanley Baldwin - are not neglected.

Stourport-On-Severn - A history of the town and the area is published by Hunt End Books and costs £9.99.