A DORCHESTER author says he was "thrilled" to share his work with none other than the future king of England.

David Forrester has been working with former residents on the Mill Street area of the county town to capture their memories for his latest book Mill Street, Dorchester: Thomas Hardy's Mixen Lane.

The book follows his previous work Fordington Remembered, which recorded his memories of growing up in the area.

On a recent visit by the Prince of Wales to Dorchester David had the honour of meeting His Royal Highness and even to present him with copies of the books.

He said: "What a day – you don't expect to be asked to present your books to the future king. I was so proud.

"From the outset he put me totally at ease, asking about writing the books, the research and photographs, as he thumbed through the book on Mill Street."

Also present was Rupert Edwards, Chairman of Mill Street Housing Society, whose grandfather started the society and took many of the pictures seen in the book.

He said: "His Royal Highness kept saying how valuable old photos are and that we should never throw them away.

"Thanking me, he handed the books to his secretary, saying: 'Keep hold of these, I want to look at them later'. I was thrilled."

David's books are on sale locally and available from publisher Roving Press either on line at rovingpress.co.uk or by calling 01300 321531.

Royalties are being shared between the Mill Street Housing Society and local women’s refuge.

Mill Street, Dorchester promises to take the reader back in time to what was described as a troubled area of the town and explores the remarkable achievements of the Mill Street Mission and later Housing Society, which were instrumental in helping the poor people living there.