A FORMER Wyre Forest miner has been digging into the history of the industry to write a book on the subject.

Robert Evans of Dunley Road, Stourport, can trace his family roots in the mining industry back by hundreds of years.

He has joined forces with fellow enthusiast David Poyner of Kidderminster to write the story of mining in the area.

Mr Evans, 66, said: "My great-great-great-great-great grandfather, William Burgess, was a miner at Highley colliery in 1780.

"I worked as a surveyor for 10 years in Alveley Colliery and later moved to Hampstead, Birmingham.

"I started as a lad as a miner and when the National Coal Board started up mining schools for youngsters, I was lucky enough to be picked to train as a surveyor.

"There is still about 50 million tons of coal underground in this area and I reckon in about 100 years time they will be digging it up.

"Future generations will be shocked to think we just burned it as coal. It can be used to make nylon, dyestuff, aspirin, petrol and even protein."

Both Mr Evans, who is retired, and Mr Poyner, a lecturer in pharmacology at Aston University, Birmingham, are members of the Shropshire Caving and Mining Club.

Mining in the Wyre Forest area dates back to the 13th century and ended in 1972 when hundreds of shafts were filled in and made safe.

Characters who feature in the new book include Horace Lloyd, a surveyor at Highley Colliery in 1916, who collaborated with Sir Edward Elgar on the writing of brass band music.

l The Wyre Forest Coalfield by David Poyner and Robert Evans is published by Tempus Publishing Ltd in its Images of England series, price £14.99.