THE first book on the history of Chester-le-Street is flying off the shelves just days after being published.

More than 100 copies of Chester-le-Street and its Place in History, by local historian Raymond Selkirk, have been bought by local history buffs in ten days.

Priced at nearly £30, the hefty tome is the first definitive account of the town's history.

Raymond's two-year labour of love looks back on the town's rich and bloody heritage from flashier places like Newcastle and York and even proclaims the market town as the ancient capital of the North.

Vikings, Norsemen, the Middle Ages and modern times are also covered in the 530-page volume.

It also has exclusive details of six Roman roads bisecting the town and a chapter by local expert Dr John Banham on Coal and Waggonways 1650-1850.

Raymond, an archaeologist and former airline pilot, said: "We sold all these books in the first ten days. This is very good going for a history book."

It's also Raymond's 70th birthday today, so he hopes to make it a bigger celebration with the sale of more copies.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and supported by Chester-le-Street District Council, the book, priced £29.95, is printed by Casdec Limited.

It is available for sale from the Book Case shop in Chester-le-Street Front Street or phone Casdec on 0191-410 5556.