TONY Robinson's new book is a fascinating insight into the lives of people far worse off than most of us in modern British society.

Based on the successful TV series of the same name, the book charts the plight of employees whose lives were never touched by the European Working Time Directive or even the Human Rights Act.

Instead, all those jobs which today would be done by robotic arms or remote probes were completed by people desperate to make a living.

From the Saltpetre Man who raided people's homes to collect rotted excrement and urine to turn into gunpowder to the medieval executioners, The Worst Jobs in History tells their tale in a light-hearted yet thought-provoking manner.

Tony said: "Having dug up a leper's hospital just outside Winchester, there's no doubt that people in this part of the country were doing some of the worst jobs in history. I hope people will get a better view of their history from this book and learn more about some of the extremely unpleasant jobs their forebears had to endure."

The Worst Jobs in History by Tony Robinson is published by Boxtree priced £18.99.