A BLACKWOOD author has published a book based on the 1984 miners' strike which he hopes will preserve some of the town’s proud history.

Andrew Richards, 35, felt the time was right to release “Hope Now” – an epic poem – because of the modern “dangers” of society.

Set in the Blackwood area and focused around Oakdale colliery, it tells the story of a stranger's arrival in the area and of his subsequent involvement with the miners as they battle to preserve their livelihoods and their community's way of life.

Its launch was held at the Blackwood Miners’ Institute earlier this month where Cllr Michael Gray, the mayor of Caerphilly county borough, and Jack Humphreys, chairman of the Aber Valley Heritage Group, were guest speakers.

Mr Richards, who has worked at local jewellers Gus Jones Jewellers Ltd for the past 16 years, said: “I've witnessed first hand the slow decline of the towns further up the valley where the lack of any replacement for coal mining has hit hardest and perhaps irrevocably.

“My motivation for writing the book is not so much one of catharsis or exorcism but one of preservation. The book is, I guess, my attempt to preserve a slice of history that is in grave danger of being buried under an avalanche of out-of-town retail parks and shiny, generic housing estates for those commuting to the nearest city.

For a copy of the book, visit www.landfoxpress.com.