STORYTELLER David James is collecting memories for his one-man travelling show about the history of Dorset.

The former Wey Valley School teacher from Weymouth is taking his unique brand of performance art on the road to keep tales of yesteryear alive.

Mr James, of Cleveland Road in Radipole, said: "I am collecting local people's memories from a very personal point of view so I am able to tell stories from different viewpoints.

"I am particularly interested in family stories along the lines of 'I remember when my granddad told me about this or that.'

"What I am trying to do is put the 'story' back into history and take it into the community, educate people by storytelling and give us back a bit of pride about Dorset folklore.

"It is a raconteur's rambles through the back lanes of Dorset memory."

An Oral History of Dorset is what Mr James calls "a cabinet of curiosities", a two to three-hour programme that takes in tales ranging from husband killer Mary Channing - who was strangled and burned at Maumbury Rings in 1705 - to the great fire of Blandford.

He weaves anecdotes of smugglers, fishermen, and military history around people's accounts of life in Dorset, in a constantly evolving narrative according to what memories he picks up.

He performs workshops at schools and organisations and is also hoping to target the after-dinner circuit for more of an adult audience.

Mr James, who also directs the senior group of Dorchester Youth Theatre, has appeared on BBC Radio encouraging listeners to tell him their own tales and has produced his own Dark Tales tape and Myth and Magic CD.

His website at www.storyteller.me.uk outlines the international, national and local history of storytelling, a tradition that Mr James is working to keep alive.

Part of his performance involves challenging the audience to come up with characters, objects and settings which he incorporates into a tale within seconds.

Anybody interested in finding out more about An Oral History of Dorset can contact Mr James via his website.