A SIX-YEAR research project into the life of a pioneering Clitheroe photographer has exposed an incredible legacy of Victorian picture postcards.

And Blackburn photographer John Barry's fascination with the man's life and work has led to a trans-Atlantic journey by his Canadian descendants.

Edmondson Buck, who was born in 1858, produced thousands of picture postcards of Ribble Valley scenes from lantern slides.

He produced them using rudimentary photographic methods, but John believes his work, now contained in the vaults of Clitheroe library, is nevertheless outstanding.

He lectures on the pioneering photographer's life and work and was asked by library staff to give a private talk to two of Buck's Canadian descendants visiting the country.

Mr Barry, who plans to write a biography of Buck, said: " My interest in him was sparked by a fascination with Victorian photography. As well as being a keen astronomer and botanist, he left an incredible legacy of slides and photographs that form a crucial part of photographic history."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.