WHAT began with a trip to Bradford with his grandad 50 years ago to watch Yorkshire play Australia led to a lifelong fascination with cricket.

Now, David Mitchell, who grew up in Settle, has written From Snicket to Wicket - a nostalgic look at playing the game in his backyard, and on the street down the snicket behind the post office.

David, whose father was the late WR 'Bill' Mitchell, former editor of The Dalesman, also spent many hours at Settle Cricket Club, watching from the boundary, helping in the scorebox and finally playing for the club in the Ribblesdale League.

He recalls the Settle players and annual matches against the Yorkshire first team on the Marshfield ground in the shadow of the limestone crags and the Settle-Carlisle railway.

The book is a personal, whimsical and nostalgic view of a game which has always been close to David's heart.

Published by New Generation, 'From Snicket To Wicket', priced £6.99, is available online or directly from David by email: sunnysiders.dm@gmail.com.