THERE'S ample evidence in the Examiner on a regular basis of the widespread interest in local history.

A new evening course starting at Huddersfield University in September could be just the thing for anyone wanting to take that interest further.

The course, Huddersfield: A Most Handsome Town, is based around the book of that name by Mrs Hilary Haigh, the university's archivist.

Mrs Haigh will be the senior tutor on a course which covers the period from the 14th to 21st centuries and will delve into - among other things - religion and politics in medieval Huddersfield, the Ramsden and Beaumont families, the transition from miserable village to handsome town, industrialisation, the evangelical revival, the world wars and the Great Depression.

Backing Mrs Haigh will be an impressive team of tutors: Dr John Hargreaves, author of a coming book on Huddersfield, Professor Keith Laybourn, who has written many books on the rise of Labour, Dr Pat Callum, a specialist in medieval religious history and Dr Tim Thornton, an expert in medieval political history.

The course is intended to appeal to local history enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds whether they are studying purely for enjoyment or to complete the assessed coursework.

For more details contact history secretary Liz Trayte on 01484-472359 (e-mail l.trayte@hud.ac.uk) or course organiser Dr Peter Davies (01484-472405 or e-mail p.j.davies@hud.ac.uk