'Goldfinder' - the story of the world's most successful treasure hunter - is in print.

The 420-page autobiography of Keith Jessop will be in bookshops throughout the country by the end of May or beginning of June.

The £15.99 hardback reveals the no-holds-barred details about his life and career.

Keighley-born Keith, once described as the 'Steptoe' of the world's oceans, shot to international fame and millionaire status in 1981 after he masterminded the salvage of £44 million-worth of gold bullion from the sunken cruiser HMS Edinburgh.

His company, Jessop Marine Recoveries, won the contract to salvage Russian wartime gold from HMS Edinburgh.

The cruiser had been sunk by German destroyers in May 1942 in the Barents Sea north of Russia.

After the salvage operation Keith's dream turned to a nightmare as he became embroiled in a series of tax and legal battles which cost most of his fortune.

Keith, 66, who now lives in Normandy, France, says: "I'm in the history books already, but this goes one stage further. It was a great personal challenge writing the book.

"It's a great feeling to know that your life has been chronicled.

"the book has been checked by lawyers, obviously, and it reveals many things never before revealed - even about my life in Keighley."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.