YORK could hold the secret behind a mysterious 19th century family Bible found dumped in a skip.

Retired Scottish minister Andy Bennie, 62, spotted the beautiful leather bound bible sticking out of a skip while on a break in Blackpool.

Listings inside the cover revealed the owners of the Bible moved to Clifton in the 1800s.

Mr Bennie said: “I was in Blackpool staying with friends. As we were out walking we went past a skip and I noticed the Bible sticking out of the side. Being a retired minister I was very interested – it was one of those things that catches your eye.

“The history of it is absolutely fascinating. There are a full generation of people recorded in this book.”

The hand-written note in the cover of the book details the marriage of gardener Robert McIntosh, from Perthshire, and Augusta Towner, from Brighton, on November 24 1868.

Mr McIntosh then landed a job in York and the couple’s children were born in Clifton.

Mary Louisa was born in 1869, Alice in 1871, Katherine in 1872 and Robert in 1874.

Alice went on to marry George William Daniels in Clifton Church in 1897, and their daughter Alice May, was bon in York in 1898.

Mr Bennie, who lives in Straiton, in Ayrshire, has said he has started research to help trace information about the family. He added: “It must be worth a bit but I don’t want anything for it.

“I want it to go to its rightful owner. Wouldn’t it be fabulous if we could bring the whole family together and present them with a Bible.”

Anyone with information should contact Andy at margaretandandy@hotmail.co.uk