Wally Simpkin has collated his regular column, which he writes for the Driffield Times, into a book.

The book, titled Driffield and District Through The Times, traces the history of the local area from the Roman times up to the period including the Second World War.

He says the release of the book is well timed to tie in with the increased desire to attract more tourism to this area.

"There are projects to bring tourism to the area and this book complements that idea," he said.

Mr Simpkin, who lives in Driffield, has been writing his history column, which is published fortnightly in the Driffield Times and on the newspaper's website, for around 10 years.

The former Driffield School teacher has included his best pieces in this 400-page book, which is a follow up to last year's A Lost Correspondence, a series of fictional letters based on events recorded in East Riding history.

In his latest work the versatile author has covered the area from Hull in the south of the region up to Filey in the north, including many of the villages which surround Driffield such as Wold Newton, Foston, Burton Fleming, Langtoft, Kilham, Garton and Wansford.

He discusses the tessellated Roman pavements unearthed by 19th and 20th century archaeologists, the Angles and Saxons who arrived at the Gypsey Race and how the Danes left a lasting legacy in the Wolds.

Mr Simpkin gave his thanks to all his readers and supporters. He is now preparing another book, similar to A Lost Correspondence, which will be written as a series of letters, for release next year.

• Driffield and District Through The Times is on sale at the Driffield Times offices on Mill Street, Driffield, at a price of £10.