AN AUTHOR who was born and bred in Dorchester has died, leaving a series of books on the county town.

Friends and family of Ivor Strange, 78, said they will remember him for his great sense of humour and fun.

Mr Strange was born on St George's Day (April 23) 1929 in Mill Street, Fordington, and went to the Colliton Road preparatory school, and Dorchester's secondary modern school.

He had two brothers Chris and Derek, two sisters Nancy and Janet, and worked in a gun shop in the town until 1947 when he joined the army.

His brother-in-law, Ted Childs, said: "He was known as the Little Giant of Fordington', because he was the smallest in the family".

When Mr Strange retired due to heart trouble, he bought a computer and wrote several books on Dorchester, including Time Gentlemen Please about the town's pubs, Dorchester Names Remembered and one on local parishes. Mr Childs added: "His books were quite popular and he was a prolific writer about Dorchester - he had quite a lot of friends here."

Last year Mr Strange was presented to the Queen at Sandhurst at the Sovereign's Parade and received an award from the academy for more than 50 years' association with the college.

He died on August 17 in Surrey. A funeral will be held at Woking Crematorium on September 3.