While some areas of High and Low Bentham would still look familiar if the ghosts of past residents were to return, plenty has changed over the last century in the North Yorkshire town.

And particularly poignant in this series of photographs is the one of Low Bentham School which has just announced concerns over falling rolls that may see its closure in the not-to-distant future.

No-one knows better what this would mean for the area than David Johnson who used to be headmaster at High Bentham School and who has loaned us these photographs.

They are just some of the varied selection in David's most recent local history book entitled Bentham As It Were.

The title gives a hint of David's sense of hunmour and his knowledge of the way Bentham folk speak.

The book, David's third, contains about 150 photographs and other nostalgic images.

Most have not previously been published.

The book cover cleverly tells of David knowing the ins and outs of High and Low Bentham, covering them from top to bottom and giving the 'low down' on the 'high ups'.

The book spans 125 years and highlights High and Low Bentham's distinct communities with their own mills, churches, schools and social life.

The 72-page book priced £8 is available from High Bentham Post Office, tourism offices and bookshops or by post, free of postage if a cheque accompanies the order, from Landy Publishing, 3 Staining Rise, Staining, Blackpool FY3 OBU. Phone 01253 895678 or peggie @peggiedobson.wanadoo.co.uk.