LIFE in 17th century Minstead is the subject of a new book by New Forest author Peter Roberts.

The 140-page book provides a fascinating insight into the way people in the parish lived and worked more than 300 years ago.

Many of the villagers kept pigs, horses and cows - and the ancient art of charcoal-making was one of the main industries.

Mr Roberts, a former verderer, has used information from wills and inventories to piece together a detailed portrait of Minstead in the 1600s.

He said: "Even the better off farmers had a very basic way of life and possessed only a few more furnishings than their poorer neighbours.

"The average life expectancy was roughly 30-40 years, much as it is in Third World countries today.

"Many people had two occupations, combining commoning with activities such as charcoal burning or working as a labourer for the Lord of the Manor."

The book will be launched at Minstead village hall tomorrow at 7.30pm. A pound for every copy sold will be donated to the Pahar Trust, which helps to build schools in remote areas of Nepal.