THE MYSTERIES of ancient Egypt remain just that for many people.

But one local man has devoted his life to studying the culture, lifestyle and philosophy of the ancient Greek and Egyptian civilizations.

And the culmination of Alan Fildes' work has just been bound in a fascinating book about Alexander the Great, the famous conqueror and self-proclaimed pharaoh of Egypt.

Alan (53) of Kersal Road, Prestwich, has spent the past year writing his first book, Alexander The Great: Son of the Gods.

And for a father-of-two who runs his own engineering parts business, that is quite an achievement. Alan, who runs the local Nemes Egyptology Society with his wife, Christine, said: "It is really exciting. I have never written a book before and I'm rather proud of my achievements. "The past few years have been quite successful and I have been able to work with the world's experts in Egyptology."

A visitor to Egypt 32 times Alan, who was so interested in King Alexander III that he named his eldest son after him, was recently invited by Oxford University's archaeological research society to work in the Cairo Museum and speak about his research at Saqqara, which is the home of the famous pyramids.

Alan enthused: "I have always been interested in Alexander the Great and back in the 1970s I travelled around Greece where he was born. I happened to visit Egypt on my travels and fell in love with it."

Alan's book, which has been overseen and "fine-tuned" by Dr Joann Fletcher, the world expert on Egyptian wigs, explores all aspects of the king's life. It is published by DBP.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Egyptology can contact Alan on 773 0013. The society meets monthly at St Andrew's Church, Woodward Road, Prestwich.