COMMUTERS are getting the chance to read about one of Manningtree’s most notorious historical characters.

Novel, The Black Hours, written by Alison Williams is based on the infamous persecution of hundreds of men and women in Essex in the 17th century for witchcraft.

Published last year it focuses on the reign of terror self-styled witchfinder general Matthew Hopkins brought about after he moved to Manningtree.

And it is now part of the project Books on the Underground and has been placed on the District Line for the London Underground’s 2.5million daily communters to pick up and read.

Alison said: “The idea behind Books on the Underground is to think of it as a local library, but without the late fees."