PATRICIA Wilnecker was born in a bungalow in Gwynne Road, Upper Parkstone, Poole. Seventy years later, she's still there.

"I suppose I must like it here," she says. "It's not too modern, there are nice shops and the people are friendly. I've got good neighbours and it's handy for the coast, the New Forest and the countryside."

Patricia, who has never married, lives with her dog, "my little Bounty", and in the 1980s took early retirement from her sales job with British Telecom.

She had always been keen on local history, and, with more time on her hands, asked the Echo to appeal to fellow Upper Parkstonians for more information about their area.

"I'd been to the library and, although they had plenty on Poole, there was nothing on this part of town. Following the piece appearing in the paper I was contacted by lots of people, and put together my first booklet, A History of Upper Parkstone."

Obviously it wasn't just Patricia that was so interested in the area's history. The booklet's success took her by surprise - the first print run of 1,000 sold out within a month, and another 1,000 copies sold within a further six weeks.

Two more booklets followed - Upper Parkstone in World War Two and More Recollections of Old Upper Parkstone - and a total of 12,000 have since been sold.

Now all three booklets have been brought together in one publication, Upper Parkstone History (price £6.95), on sale at various local shops, including several newsagents, D J Brookings in Ashley Road, Pippas gift shop, the Waterfront Museum and Ottakers bookshop in Poole, and Westbourne Books and Milners in Westbourne.

Patricia has also written books on ghosts and places to go walking with your dog.