A-Z OF NEWCASTLE: PLACES, PEOPLE, HISTORY, by Ken Hutchinson. Published by Amberley Publishing (www.amberley-books.com). £14.99. Softback.

ONE of England’s greatest cities, Newcastle has a proud heritage dating back to Roman times. It grew as an important centre for the wool trade in the 14th century, later becoming a major coal mining hub and a centre for shipbuilding and ship repair work.

The author takes readers on their own A to Z tour around the city’s history, exploring the nooks and crannies and relating fascinating tales about the most interesting people and places.