A former steam train worker returned to his home town to sign copies of his book about life on the railways.

Grandfather-of-two Patrick Kelly shared his memories with fellow train enthusiasts during a book signing at WHSmith in Didcot.

The 63-year-old, who was born and brought up in Didcot, started working on the railways when he left St Birinus School in 1959.

He began as a trainee fitter, mending and repairing steam engines from across the south of England, before becoming a fully-fledged fitter five years later.

Mr Kelly left the railways in 1966 and now lives near King’s Lynn, working as a civil servant at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

He began writing Didcot Steam Apprentice nine years ago and finally saw it published in 2007.

He said: “The book is about my time as an apprentice, the antics I got up to, the fun times and some serious times. I have fond memories of those days.”

Speaking at the signing, he said: “I have sold about 20 books, met a lot of people that I used to know back in the 1960s and have had some tears from the fond memories. It has been a smashing day.”