INTERNATIONAL politics, a private plane hired by an MP, secret files and claims of currency smuggling are unexpected features in a talk on a West Cumbrian tannery.

Also under the spotlight are Hungarian links with leather production at the Haverigg Tannery, near Millom, in a talk on Wednesday by Evening Mail Memories Page writer Bill Myers.

It is the latest in a series of events held by the Duddon Valley History Group and the illustrated lecture can be heard at Broughton Victory Hall from 7.30pm.

Leather production came to Haverigg at a time of widespread unemployment throughout what was then West Cumberland.

How it all started in the 1930s is down to two men -

Andrew Vigodny and the Millom MP Frank Anderson.

Millom and the rest of Copeland goes to the polls on Thursday to chose an MP to replace Jamie Reed - it will struggle to find anyone to match Anderson.

He helped Hugarians and Czechs to settle at Cleator Moor, Hensingham and Haverigg.

And he got them here from under the noses of increasing fascist authorities in Eastern Europe.

He didn't call for an inquiry, sign a petition, or wave a placard - he hired a plane to bring them to safety.

Leather tanning at Haverigg proved to be a success story which continued long after the Second World War and employed hundreds of people.

It was even visited by future Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1950 - then President of the Board of Trade - to open new factory extensions.