A Heslington grandad has won unanimous acclaim in his village after publishing his childhood memories.

Donald Ward, 74, who has lived in Heslington for most of his life, decided that he would record bits and pieces about his childhood to amuse his two grandsons.

Now a published version of his memories is taking the village by storm.

"I wanted to tell my grandchildren what it was like and it developed from there," said Donald.

"Heslington is changing so rapidly I thought I'd better get it down quick."

In his book, he also recounts the war years, and describes how a fully-laden bomber from Elvington crashed on the Outgang, a strip of wasteland near the village, in the thick of the blitz.

Heslington Village Trust secretary Angela Fisher said: "Mr Ward's history is full of life and full of detail."

With help from the City of York Creative Communities Project, the Trust plans to record life in the village past and present.