POSITIVE feedback on childhood recollections he wrote about on Facebook has led to a 61-year-old man penning his first book.

David Hayes has fond memories of growing up in Leigh in the 1960s and 70s.

His debut book What Has He Done Now?: Tales from a North West Childhood in the 60s and Early 70s focuses on the first 17 years of his life living in the former mining time, covering everything from family struggles to funny anecdotes.

David, who now lives on Engine Lane, Tyldesley, said: “I was reminiscing about how everything was different when I was young and I wrote one of my recollections online.

"Several people told me I should write a book about my childhood experiences and I am really happy that I listened to them.

"Writing the book has been a wonderful yet bittersweet experience.

"So much has changed – people do not have the same sense of community as they used to.

“Back in the day we had nothing really. We were poverty-stricken but we were happy, because everyone was in the same boat.

"Because of that everyone supported each other.”

It took the former Leigh Council School pupil six months to write the book and he is 'very proud' of it.

He said: "Sixty per cent of the book is good fun with lots of funny tales, and the rest is facts about living in a mining town in that time.

“A lot of my memories are fond ones and as a child you remember funny events.

"I am very proud of the book.

“My family have really enjoyed the process, as well as the end product, because it has got everyone talking about the past and remembering people and times long gone.”

David is hoping to write another book focusing on his adult life in the future as well as one about about ghosts.

For more information on David's book visit amzn.to/2dUwAmW.