RESEARCHERS who are compiling a book about Britain's last hangman, Harry Allen, are hoping to find out more details about the period he spent running a pub in Farnworth.

Harry Allen performed 29 executions and assisted in around 40 others, between 1938 and 1964, including the controversial case of James Hanratty who was convicted of the A6 murder, and hanged at Bedford Prison in 1962.

Mr Allen's last job was the hanging of Gwynne Owen Evans at Strangeways Prison at 8am, on August 13, 1964.

Mr Allen's son, Brian, who still lives in Bolton, was approached by the authors of a new book on capital punishment in Britain, to find out more details about how his father combined running the old Rawson Arms Hotel in Peel Street, Farnworth,with his role as Britain's senior chief executioner.

Brian Allen, aged 71, said: "My father was the licensee from 1946 until sometime in the early 50s.

"The pub was burnt down some years ago and the authors are particularly keen to get a photo of the front of the building. They've already checked the archives and been to all the local libraries, but they've drawn a blank.

"My father was born in Yorkshire and lived most of his life in Ashton-under-Lyne, but he moved to Bolton for work.

"My sister Christina and I both went to a St Gregory's School in Farnworth. When dad left the pub he took over another one in Whitefield.

"Dad was an executioner for the UK and the Commonwealth and he went all over the world, but he never spoke to people about his work.

"He said it was private and between him and the person that was executed and he respected their families. But he played his part in history and I think it's important it all gets written down."