A student has launched a book about mines in Cwm Rheidol and Ystumtuen after starting work on it when he was just eight years old.

Ioan Lord, who studies Welsh history at Bangor University and also works with the Vale of Rheidol Railway, started work on the book, Rich Mountains of Lead: The Metal Mining Industry of Cwm Rheidol and Ystumtuen, 12 years ago.

The book is being launched on Saturday at 12.30pm at the Vale of Rheidol Railway when Ioan will give a talk about the mines.

The book is a detailed history of the lead, silver and zinc mines in the area and studies the rise and fall of the mining industry in the Central Wales Orefield.

Ioan, a former Ysgol Penweddig pupil who also volunteers at the Llywernog Silver Mine in Ponterwyd, said: “I feel connected with the area since I’ve lived here my whole life, and want to increase interest in the area’s important industrial past.

“I feel like it’s my heritage and that it deserves more attention and interest.

“I wrote the book because I have always had a great interest in my area’s mining history, and Cwm Rheidol and Ystumtuen have communities and 40 mines which have never been studied in depth before.

“I’ve written it since it’s a forgotten history, and one which deserves a book dedicated to it.”