A BLAENAVON man hung up his boxing gloves and picked up a pen to write a book about his hometown.

Alan Matthews, 50, a fitness trainer, once boxed and worked as a bodyguard for the boxing world's most famous fighters.

But he swapped his life protecting Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson to carry out a promise to his father.

Mr Matthews, born in North Street, moved to London with his family and grew up in the city.

"I was so fed up with what I was doing, one morning I woke up and thought, 'that's it, I'm moving back to Blaenavon'.

"My father always said I should never forget my roots and so I decided to write a book about the town as my father's legacy."

Mr Matthews' father, who was a miner, suffered with dust on his lungs and died 14 years ago.

Mr Matthews moved back to Blaenavon five years ago.

He started writing the book as a hobby but when a friend sent it to a London publisher, he was told they were interested.

"I didn't follow it up, but came across my book a while later and thought 'why not?'.

"I sent it to an American publisher just for a giggle and within three days they e-mailed me and said they wanted to publish it."

Blaenavon Birthplace of Steel and Sacrifice - Mountain Thoughts was penned in his father's name, Alonzo Matthews.

It contains all the history of the Valleys from the 18th century told by the Coity Mountain.

"It is written as if the mountain is telling the story. I looked at it and thought, I bet that mountain has seen everything," he said.

Mr Matthews has researched every person and event mentioned in the book.

It is written in Valleys slang, but those who live outside the Valleys need not worry, as there is a glossary at the back explaining the words.

The book, which is due to be released on May 29, costs £12.60, plus post and packaging, from www.blaenavonmountain thoughts. com.