AMATEUR historians determined to ensure a village’s past is kept alive have put together a DVD for future generations.

Thirlby, near Thirsk, while only being a tiny village has many claims to fame and residents with stories to tell - but local historian Ruth Robinson was concerned that elderly residents were dying and their memories were being lost.

So she recruited the help of fellow enthusiast Barrie Sidebottom and photographer Keith Jackson to make the DVD.

Mrs Robinson is a Londoner, although born in Yorkshire, but came to the county in 1975 and has lived in Thirlby for the past 25 years.

She said: “I just became concerned that people were passing away and we were losing so much information about the past.

"So we started interviewing the older residents and trying to piece together what would be of most interest.

"Everything has changed so much. In 1948 there were 14 farms, and almost everyone in the village was employed in farming or connected to agriculture. Now there are just four farms, and people often work outside of the village.”

Thirlby’s most famous son is vet and author Alf Wight, otherwise known as James Herriot, who lived in the village for many years.

On the DVD his daughter Rosie Page talks about her memories of her father and the village.

Bob Hunter, 82, who set up one of the village's most famous businesses, Wren Cabinet Maker’s, also talks about his memories, originally working with famous craftsman Mousey Robert Thompson.

“One of the hardest things was persuading people to talk, but once they got going it was fascinating,” added Mrs Robinson.

The film also tells the story of the farming families and how they worked.

Thirlby’s Methodist Chapel also features. The village was without a church until it was built in 1882 for £128, raised through public subscription.

The DVD covers the story of the village hall which had been a hen house, had to have concrete foundations installed and an extension built after it was condemned when it started to collapse. It also covers the flood of 2005 when the village was overwhelmed by three feet of water.

Mrs Robinson said: “We spent hours and hours putting the DVD together, but hopefully it tells the story of a village and it’s people. For future generations it’s a real record of a farming village and a rural community,”

Copies of the DVD are available through the World of James Herriot Museum and White Rose Books in Thirsk, or contact Ruth Robinson on 01845-597077.