WHAT have Penistone, Hull, Thirsk and Bradford got in common?

Anyone from Yorkshire will know they are all in God’s Own Country. This book points out they have also been the scenes of major disasters.

Vivien Teasdale has put together a fascinating collection of events including railway accidents, lifeboat disasters, mining disasters, floods, boats sinking, chimneys collapsing and ferries being blown up.

The episodes include workplace fires at Huddersfield in 1818 and 1941 and a tram accident in the town in 1883.

The stories explain how the disasters happened, how people reacted at the time and where the blame was seen to lie, though all too often the word ‘accident’ covered a multitude of sins.

As the writer points out, many of the incidents were caused by carelessness or just plain stupidity.

Many of the cases can be used as a poignant rebuttal to those who complain we are hemmed in by the health and safety brigade.