THE death of a dear friend has inspired four women to write a book about growing up together in East Lancashire.

The foursome, who have been friends for nearly 50 years, were prompted to write 'Remnants of a Youth Club', after a fifth member of their group died of cancer.

Margaret Fort, 49, of Richmond Street, Burnley, died in Burnley General Hospital in 2002, leaving husband Colin, son Ryan, two step-children and grandchildren.

During her illness, Margaret's friends gathered at her bedside to chat - and their reminiscences were so enthralling that Colin told them they should write a book, because "they had more stories than Catherine Cookson."

Carole Hawke, 53, Christine Thornton, 52, Jean White, 54, and Kath Coady, 52, use the pseudonym Alice Cachjeka, after the first two letters of their first names.

The book was published in October last year and sold in bookshops in Burnley and Pendle, and is now available from Kaydee Bookshop, Moor Lane, Clitheroe.

Carole met Margaret and Christine, now of Ightenhill Park Mews, Burnley, on the first day of school at St Mary Magdelene's School, Burnley, when the trio were just four years old. They then met Kath, now of Surrey Avenue, Burnley, at secondary school, before meeting Jean - who now lives in Bournemouth - after they left school.

Carole, of Helvellyn Drive, Burnley, said: "We were all together during Margaret's last days and we went on a big trip down memory lane.

"There was lots of laughter and lots of tears and her husband said we should write a book.

"We decided he was right, so, after Margaret died, we all went away for the weekend to Stratford-upon-Avon and took just a laptop and our memories.

"We had a champagne toast to Margaret and swapped ideas for a book. None of us has a background in writing, but it just flowed."

Nine months, and many tears later, the book was complete.

Carole added: "We all grew up in Burnley and went out to the same clubs, in Burnley, Blackburn and Ribchester, when we were teenagers.

"Once we were on a roll it wasn't just the memories that came back, but the feelings as well.

"There are plenty of laughs in the book, but unfortunately it doesn't have a happy ending.

"I'm sure people will be able to recognise the things we went through."

Carole, Christine and Kath are signing copies at Kaydee Bookshop between 2pm and 4pm this Saturday.

Remnants Of A Youth Club is published by Cramer Press and is available, priced £7.99, from: Badger Books, Burnley, Colne Book Shop, Book Mark, Rosegrove, Kaydee, Clitheroe, and Pendle Heritage Centre, Barrowford.

Proceeds will go to Pendleside Hospice and the high dependency unit at Burnley General Hospital where Christine, Kath and Carole work.