A MAN born and bred in Prudhoe has written a song celebrating the town he loves.

Rob Wanless (69) has written 'The Prudhoe Song - Proud Heights' championing the town's history and landmarks.

He has, so far, written around 15 songs, including ones about the A69, Whitley Bay and wife Lorraine.

It was in lockdown Rob began to write poetry. His poems soon turned into songs, sung with his guitar, which he has now recorded in a studio.

"It's what I've always wanted to do all my life, I love music and I always wanted to play the guitar", he said.

"I've never looked at it until now. I didn't know I had it in me; it was a hidden thing in me and it's took covid to bring it out. If you want to do something badly, you'll do it. The feedback I've gotten has been fantastic."

Rob's songs have been played on Radio Prudhoe and have also been shared on Youtube and social media with audiences as far reaching as Australia.

Rob, who used to have singing lessons as a boy, added: "My passion is music. I'm proud of them all (songs), but I'm very proud of the Prudhoe one and the A69 one simply because they're both a connection with where I live.

"I've always admired Prudhoe and I finally wrote it down. What I want this to be is a Prudhoe anthem; we're great people, it's a lovely place. Putting it on a worldwide map.

"The A69 song was all about promoting the Northumberland countryside because it's beautiful and we have bags of history, castles, beautiful villages and beautiful coastlines."

Rob says it can take as little as 20 minutes to write a song based on his life experiences.

"It's the journey of my life", he said. "All my songs are about past experiences but love is attached to it in a big way. I've got a heart and if that heart can come out and relate in my songs, fabulous."

The Prudhoe Song can be listened to here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxHhDfUtdkc