Former miner Ken Firth, 85, has spent a lifetime taking hundreds of pictures of everything from pub signs and coal mines to shop fronts and churches.

His amazing collection shows how the village and its people has changed over the last 60 years, from its days as a bustling mining community right up to the present day and the opening of the ill-fated Earth Centre.

Throughout most of his life Ken was also a keen cyclist, which he only gave up a few years ago, and he explained that most of the pictures were taken while out on bike rides.

"I always loved riding the bike and photography has always been an interest of mine so the two went together. Often something will happen in life, then the moment's gone. But if you take a picture, you have a record of it forever.

"I started taking photographs as a very young man and I've just kept it going. The area has changed a lot over the years, but it also changes from picture to picture. There is always something new."

Ken has kept a detailed record of all his pictures in photo albums which chronicle the characters, places and events in Conisbrough over the last half century.

"Dates, places, people, even what the weather was like on some of them. Its all written on the back of the photos, it makes them easier to find," said Ken.

His pictures had been gathering dust at his former home on Ivanhoe Road and the idea to put them on display came about after he moved to The Dale care home about a year ago.

Home manager Alice Kearns said: "Ken has been telling us stories about his cycling days and about the pictures, so we thought it would be nice to display them and let people see his work."

Around 300 photos were put on display at Conisbrough Library last Thursday. In addition, friends have produced a 'This is Your Life' book which shows Ken's own life in pictures and features poems from some of his former cycling pals.

Also on display were a collection of badges from hostels up and down the country that Ken has stopped at while on cycling trips.

The exhibition ended on Saturday but the collection has been donated to Conisbrough and Denaby Main Heritage Group for future displays.

Group chairman Tony Greathead said: "It's an amazing collection and we're very grafeful to Ken. The photos are a record of the recent history of the area."