Fire Engines of North West England, by Robert Bonner. Nostalgia Road Publications and Trans-Pennine Publishing, £7.95.

WRITTEN from considerable experience and thorough research, Robert Bonner’s book provides an insight into the fire services in the North West.

This latest offering from Kendal-based Nostalgia Road Publications and Trans-Pennine Publishing carefully presents the history of the fire services - from big cities such as Liverpool to the cotton mills towns of Burnley and Oldham.

Illustrated with 101 mono and 11 colour photographs, the 52-page book spans the years from the earliest horse-drawn, steam powered and motor-fire engines to those still in use today.

Born in Manchester in 1950, the author writes with considerable knowledge, having served as a senior officer with the Greater Manchester brigade and as a leading fire appliance preservationist.

In 1963 he helped his father to found the Fire Brigade Society, the largest international organisation for fire service enthusiasts.

Lucy Rogers