HISTORY lover Jim Sutton is hoping to celebrate the year 2000 by publishing a 300-page book on ancient and modern Alsager.

Mr Sutton is the chairman of the Alsager History Research Group, which is compiling material for a history of the town from the middle ages.

The group aims to publish 2,000 copies of Alsager The Place And Its People by autumn 1999, in time to mark the Millennium.

Group members have been drawing together written and photographic evidence of Alsager's past for the past two years, using sources including the Public Record Office and British Library.

"The book will be aimed at people with an interest in the history of Alsager,'' said Mr Sutton, from Beechwood Drive, Alsager, who has an MA in local history studies.

"I hope it will appeal to a popular audience as well as providing information not currently available to a reasonably knowledgeable public.''

Group members have given £3,500 of their own money towards the £10,000 printing costs, Alsager B-Hoys and Alsager Town Council have given a further £1,500 between them, and the group is seeking financial help from the borough council.

Mr Sutton is seeking information on The Hall School, a private primary school from the early 1900s. He can be contacted on 01270-878787.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.