Just three months after being published, a book to support young people in the Caldbeck area has sold more than 500 copies.

‘Caldbeck - A Special Part of the Lakeland’, written by resident Tony Vaux, was published by the Caldbeck and District Local History Society, receiving strong support from the local community and well-known figures including Sir Chris Bonington, Lord Bragg of Wigton and Rory Stewart.

The book began as a history of the Vaux family who lived at Brownrigg Farm, Caldbeck from Norman times until they died out in the eighteenth century.

Mr Faux now lives in the same farmhouse and began his research by finding out who they were and whether there was a connection to his own family.

Becoming more interested in the wider history of Caldbeck, Mr Vaux teamed up with John Price, who at the time was president of the Caldbeck and District Local History Society. The book focuses on the question: Why the Caldbeck area can be described, in the words of Sir Chris Bonington,”as unique and very special village to society in so many ways?”

When first published, Lord Bragg wrote to Mr Vaux about his own experiences of cycling to Caldbeck from his home in Wigton in his early teens. After reading the book, he said: “A thorough and absorbing study of a marvellous village in north Cumbria.”

The need to support and encourage young people and families was identified in the book as a key challenge for Caldbeck and other rural areas nearby.

Proceeds from the book sales are being used to support community activity for young people. Already, £1,500 has been donated to the Fellview School in Caldbeck.

Headteacher Gillian McElvogue, said: “Donations are being used to buy books that are up to date, relevant and inspiring as part of our refurbishment project to develop an appealing library and research area in the heart of the school building.”

The book is available from bookshops including Bookends in Carlisle and Keswick, the New Bookshop in Cockermouth and the Hedgehog bookshop in Penrith. It is also available from shops in the Caldbeck area and copies can be sent by post, contact Mr Vaux, vauxt@aol.com.

The cover price is £15 and from March it was expected £10 of each copy sold would be donated to help young people.