A STAFF reporter from the Yorkshire Observer painted a memorable pen-portrait of York the morning after Hitler's bombs rained down one April night more than 60 years ago.

His roving eye noted: "The beautiful spires of the undamaged Minster against a blue sky... a tired-looking girl serving buns and bread over a confectionary counter - bombed out of her home six hours before - tradespeople sweeping away glass splinters into neat piles outside their shops... the cheerful faces and the bustle of the streets."

It was, notes prolific York author and historian Charles Whiting in his book Fire Over York, "all good, uplifting stuff, showing that life in York went on and its citizens were plucky and full of Yorkshire grit."

The sad truth was that 72 people - 14 of them children - died in that raid in the early hours of April 29 1942. A further 92 people were seriously injured and 113 slightly wounded.

No one who lived through the raid will ever forget it.

The first edition of Mr Whiting's book came out 30 years or so ago. That was followed by a second edition 15 years later. So the time seemed right to bring out a third edition to coincide with celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the war.

Mr Whiting had no inkling that by the time the book came out the terrorist bombings in London would have given it new poignancy.

He is not comfortable with talk of the Dunkirk spirit being resurrected in the wake of the London bombings. "We are not under siege," he said. "This was a one-off, I hope."

Mr Whiting's book, meanwhile, with its vivid descriptions and shocking photos of a bomb-damaged York, will help us to at least put recent events - tragic and horrifying as they are - into perspective.

Fire Over York: The Great York Air Raid by Charles Whiting will be published by Easingwold-based GH Smith at the end of this month, priced £10.99.

To reserve a copy call GH Smith on 01347 821329.

Updated: 16:39 Friday, July 15, 2005