THE changing face of Runcorn has been captured in a fascinating book.

Travel back in time as more than 250 photographs take you on a journey through the past century.

Images of England: Runcorn by local historian Bert Starkey, is one of a series of Tempus classics re-issued in a new look design.

Over the past 35 years, the town has rapidly been transformed from a Cheshire market town, surrounded by farms and fields, into a densely populated new town.

Few newcomers would remember the haystacks and country lanes that used to surround Halton Castle.

Cows strolling along Main Street to the fields in Halton village is just one of many forgotten images.

But it's the pictures of people that often tell the true story.

A photograph of Victorian women at Camden Methodist Chapel, taken more than 100 years ago, is a poignant piece of social history.

If you think the recent heatwave has made your job unbearable, spare a thought for the labourers who sweated it in the Salt Union vacuum plant.

A picture of men stripped off to their underpants shows how they could only work for a few minutes at a time, the heat was so intense.

Producing leather was another back-breaking operation as labourers struggled to haul huge animal carcasses in the tannery pits.

As the campaign for the £209m second Mersey crossing gears up, the opening of the transporter bridge in 1905 makes us realise how times have changed.

It cost £137,000 and took three and a half years to build.

Lots more images of the town's residents, shops, churches, homes and celebrations will keep you intrigued for hours.

The book has only been made possible thanks to the generosity of many people who loaned treasured family photographs to author Bert Starkey.

Priced £12.99, it is available from The Curiosity Bookshop in High Street.