FASCINATING old photographs which chronicle the history of a former Bury-based ambulance builder have been saved for posterity.

And it's all due to a kind gesture by Mr Keith Tinker, who for eight years was general manager of local firm Wilson and Stockall.

For more than 80 years, this company manufactured a range of ambulances before being wound up around 25 years ago.

The business was based near the site of the present-day roundabout on Angouleme Way and in its heyday, says Mr Tinker, it was the biggest builder of ambulances in the world.

He has now presented an album containing dozens of old photographs to Greater Manchester Ambulance Service chiefs.

The precious prints illustrate the range of ambulance vehicles built by the company over many years.

They will be preserved by GMAS and the album will be available for inspection by members of the public.

Mr Tinker (69) of Alkrington, Middleton, was general manager of Wilson and Stockall for eight years. "The company was wound up around 25 years ago during the time of the demolition in the town centre," he said.

"It had been in operation long before the motor car was invented in 1896."

Many of the first models were drawn by horses, and the photographs give a remarkable insight into the history of ambulances.

Some prints show vehicles used in the First World War and at other significant periods during the company's history.

Mr Tinker said: "When the company was wound up, the album was discovered in the bottom of a cupboard.

"Because I'm a vintage car enthusiast, and have been all my life, I took the album home, and it's remained with me all these years.

"I eventually showed it to friends and colleagues and thought it was silly to have a wonderful record such as this stuck in a drawer, with only me to look at it."

He got in touch with GMAS and they were delighted to accept it.

"They said they had never seen anything like it," said Mr Tinker.

The photographs are now at the service's training school in Bolton. They have been transferred into a new, large photographic album.

Mr Tinker and his wife Elizabeth were there for the presentation.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.