FOR years, the name of Sunter Brothers was one of the biggest in the heavy haulage industry.

Huge tractor units from the firm, based in Northallerton, pulled some of the biggest and toughest loads on the roads.

For decades, it was one of the biggest employers in the town, and its expertise was also highly valued abroad, particularly in the Middle East and Europe.

Now, 15 years after the firm's demise, it has become the subject of a book by local author Tony Eaton.

Mr Eaton, a 64-year-old former fireman, has spent more than two years gathering reams of material, and has carried out scores of interviews to put together the company's story.

The result has now been published in a lavishly-illustrated 150-page book, Sunters, High - Wide & Mighty, which is on sale at £14.95.

"Other books that I've read about Northallerton have never mentioned the company, even though it was one of the biggest private employers," said Mr Eaton yesterday.

"I thought it was about time its story was told, and it really is a fascinating one."

The book traces the story from the marriage of George and Alice Sunter in Swaledale in 1890, and then centres on the creation of the firm, led by their eldest son, Tom.

He began by buying a Model T Ford and then went on to heavy goods, hauling timber from the Dales and local area.

His brothers, Len and Joseph, teamed up with him and by the 1930s they had built up a viable haulage company.

The firm relocated to Northallerton, moving war materials, and after the Second World War it brought a fleet of coaches to transport troops before moving into the world of super heavy haulage, with spectacularly large tractor units capable of pulling immense loads.

Using records, anecdotes, memories and photographs, Mr Eaton follows the story up to 1986 when Sunters was taken over by Econofreight.

Sunters, High - Wide & Mighty, published by ReCall, can be obtained by contacting Mr Eaton, at 50 Turker Lane, Northallerton, DL6 1QA, telephone (01609) 774439