Lifestyles, crime and prostitution in the Middle Ages is the focus of a new book written by a history teacher at a Warminster school.

Martyn Whittock, the head of humanities and history at Kingdown School in Woodcock Road, said his 37th book A Brief History of the Middle Ages, published by Constable & Robinson, gives people a taste of what life was like in the era.

Mr Whittock, of Follyfield in Bradford on Avon, said: “It provides an insight in to the sex, drugs and rock and roll in the Middle Ages, but without the rock and roll, and the drugs. It looks at the crime, health and fitness, prostitution and other factors related to that era.”

Mr Whittock’s other work includes school history textbooks and three medieval historical novels.

His GCSE textbook called Crime and Punishment Since 1450, is also due to be published this summer.

“The aim of ‘A Brief History of the Middle Ages’ was to try to make people realise that the Middle Ages was exciting and dynamic,” said Mr Whittock, who has been working at Kingdown since 1992.

“The book is about trying to give people a flavour of what life would have been like in the Middle Ages.

“My job as the author, like my job as a teacher, is about making the subject more accessible and the book takes a complicated subject and makes it more engaging and accessible for readers.”

The book can be bought at www.amazon.co.uk or from bookshops priced at £8.99.