A BOOK on the architecture of Winchester has been formally handed over to the city council.

Author Andrew Rutter and Iain Patton, chairman of the City of Winchester Trust, passed a copy to the mayor Dominic Hiscock at a full council meeting.

The 293-page book, published by P&G Wells, was published last year and has already sold some 300 copies.

Mr Rutter was the first conservation officer for the city council from 1974 to 1998. He told the meeting: "I thoroughly enjoyed working for the city council. This work represents the bare bones of what I left the city. There is a lot more material if the council would like to make use of it."

Cllr Ian Tait paid tribute to the work: "It is an exceptionally interesting and informative book."