AN author has revisited one of his earlier works, updating it to provide a comprehensive guide to walks around the Wyre Forest and surrounding area.

John Roberts's Exploring Wyre Forest & Severn Valley updates his Daywalks: Wyre Forest, published in 1991, giving step-by-step directions to a network of walks covering the forest.

As well as directions and distances, the book gives an insight into local history, geology, plants, animals and birds. The bark stripping and charcoal burning industries are referred to, together with mining.

It covers a wide area of the forest and outlying woods on both banks of the River Severn from Bewdley to Hampton Loade and from Shatterford to the far western edge of the Wyre.

The walks vary in distance from three and a half miles to 10 miles and are all linked together so the walkers can switch from one to another to make up a longer walk.

The author was born in Birkenhead, Merseyside, with his earliest playgrounds being Cheshire's woods and fields, although he did not develop a deep affinity with walking until he moved to the Midlands in the 1960s.

His first series of books, including the Wyre Forest one and another on Cannock Chase, which has also been updated, were published under the Walkways label.

John, a former loss adjuster, who retired in the early 1990s, has also developed the Quercus range of books, covering Midlands subjects.

Exploring Wyre Forest & Severn Valley (ISBN 0-947708-43-X) is available from good bookshops or from Walkways. For details, visit www.walkwaysquercus.co.uk or ring 01926 776363.