A JOURNEY detailing the course of the River Avon is the subject of a new book by a prolific Redditch writer and photographer.

Following on from the success of his book about the River Severn, John Bradford has now focused on walking and photographing the Avon from Tewkesbury and its source.

The book features colour photographs and looks at the course of the river over four counties - Northamptonshire, Leicester-shire, Warwickshire and Worc-estershire.

It took more than a year to compile and gives an enthralling narrative into the orientation and history of each place.

"I have always walked in the Midlands and enjoyed writing and designing this book enormously," said Mr Bradford, whose wife Anne is also a well-know writer.

Working backwards, it details first the river's lower course as it flows through Evesham, Pershore and Tewkesbury, where it feeds into the River Severn.

Mr Bradford heads back through Warwickshire, covering Bidford, Wixford, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick itself.

He then looks at the river at its middle stages through Leamington Spa and Kenilworth, finally ending up at its source in Naseby.

On future projects, he said: " I might look at the River Teme next, although that only enters Worcestershire when it meets the Severn at Worcester."

The River Avon is published by Mrs Bradford's company, Hunt End Publishing, and is available in WHSmith in the Kingfisher Centre.