A NORTH EAST historian has published his latest book of photographs of Bishop Auckland.

Tom Hutchinson’s fifth book chronicling the changing face of the County Durham town was launched between 10am and noon in Bishop Auckland library at the town hall on Thursday, November 26.

Almost 300 colour and black-and-white pictures show how much the town has changed since the start of the 20th century by contrasting modern day scenes with how they looked in times gone by.

Places altered beyond recognition include the town’s Odeon building and railway station, while photographs of places which have since been demolished include the wishing temple in Auckland Park.

Mr Hutchinson, who was born in Bishop Auckland, said: “It’s surprising but true that most of the changes to the town’s buildings, streets and popular localities have happened from the latter half of the 20th century to the present. This has been accompanied by the closure of a lot of the big stores, such as Duggarts.”

The A4-sized, glossy historical record is priced at £9.50 and is available from Bishop Trains at Bishop Auckland railway station and Etheringtons and Cockton Hills’ newsagents on Cockton Hill Road.