A POPULAR East Lancashire writer has spent 14 years delving into the history of the cotton industry to produce his latest piece of work.

Retired Helmshore journalist Chris Aspin, 70, trawled archives and used his personal knowledge of the early cotton trade years to create the published this week. 'The Water-spinners' describes the impact on the North of England of the water-driven cotton spinning machines that ushered in the factory system.

His booktells how East Lancashire dominated the cotton industry for most of the 19th and early-20th centuries, mainly because of its damp climate which meant yarn did not break.

Southern parts of the county, such as Bolton, Bury, Manchester, and Rossendale, were dominated by the spinning industry, while East Lancashire became known for weaving.

The industry began to decline after the First World War as exports slumped and other countries began making their own cotton products.

Chris, of East Street, Helmshore, said: "I set out to locate the sites of all the spinning mills that used Richard Arkwright's famous spinning frames.

"I thought it might take two or three years, but new material, some of it from archives abroad, kept me busy for much longer."

The 500-page book has more than 150 illustrations and touches on most towns and many villages in East Lancashire. Chris, who is well known throughout the Valley for his writing skills, recently published a book to celebrate Helmshore Local History Society's 50th birthday.

The book, Just a Few Words: A Helmshore Boyhood, recalled village life during the Second World War.

It was produced after he put together 50 years of thoughts and feelings of living in Helmshore throughout the 30s and 40s.

Chris, who has produced a number of successful titles over the years, recently discovered a book he wrote in the 1960s, which originally went on sale for one guinea (£1.05).

He found it in a Blackpool second-hand book shop on sale for £100. His latest title is available in hardback and paperback editions for £33.50 and £24.95 respectively, plus £5 towards post and packaging.

It is available from 4 East Street, Helmshore, BB4 4JT or by contacting Chris on 01706 227129.