The stories of volunteers from North Kensington who fought in the Spanish Civil War have been brought to life in a new book.

Next Friday 'Echoes of Spain' will be officially launched, sharing the experiences of people who fought fascist leaders between 1936 and 1939 - including an Olympic gold medal-winning councillor and an Elgin Crescent resident who lost his pants in a bull fight.

The book also tells of the refugees who came to Britain following the war, in particular children from the Basque region.

Eddie Adams, of St Lawrence Terrace, North Kensington, is part of the Echoes of Spain Group which helped put the stories together.

"This book tells the history of ordinary people, whose stories are not normally heard," he said. "Six people from Kensington were killed when they went to fight during the Spanish Civil War, and the rest came back alive."

It also explains the stories that make up a five metre long mosaic which lies under the Westway in Portobello Road, which the group made between 2002 and 2005.

He said: "Several of the stories ended in tragedy. The most famous is perhaps the story of Lewis Clive. He was killed in the battle of Ebro, which was the last battle the Brigade fought in. He had been a serving councillor in the St Charles' ward of the borough."

Mr Clive had also won a gold medal in the paired oars at the Olympic Games.

Reginald Rose, from Elgin Crescent, also joined the fight with the Spanish Republican Brigade. His trousers once ended up on the floor while he tried to show off to his girlfriend by taking part in a bull fight. He later escaped to the mountains to escape from Franco's course and was cleared of being a spy.

The book will be launched next Friday at the Spanish school Colegio Espaniol Vicente Canada Blanch, in Portobello Road. An exhibition of photographs will remain at the Spanish school for a week following the launch party. Guest speakers are set to include veteran of the International Brigade Sam Lesser, and Spanish ambassador Carlos Casajuana. For more information or to buy the book, which costs £5, visit www.echoesofspain.co.uk