FORMER Rolling Stone Bill Wyman was in York to launch a book he has written on archaeological treasures for history fans of all ages.

He showed up at Borders in York to autograph copies of his book, Bill Wyman's Treasure Islands, and talk to locals who had turned out for this the latest leg of his bookshop tour.

The book is aimed at anyone who is interested in finding out more about the exciting discoveries made by amateur and professional archaeologists.

The bass player, who has children aged six, eight and ten, said he would like children to be able to engage with the book.

He said: "I have always been interested in history since I was a kid, but of course I didn't have the facilities that kids have today have - the visual things - it was all down to memory.

The book's publishers describe it as "a treasure trove for the beginner or the more experience archaeological explorer".

Wyman said: "I just wanted to bring together all the great finds there have been in Britain over the centuries and we narrowed it down to about 6,000."

One of several York finds mentioned in the book is the 30 Roman silver coins found and kept by workmen building the new parcel office in the 1930s some of which now reside in the Yorkshire Museum.

Updated: 10:28 Tuesday, April 26, 2005