A FORMER member of the band that became The Beatles has sought the help of a Wirral author to help find the buried treasure of Mersey skiffle.

John Duff Lowe was piano player in The Quarrymen between 1957-60, and was with John Lennon and Paul McCartney the night they met George Harrison at Wilson Hall in Garston.

John has never had a photograph of his time with the pre-Beatles group, and approached Dean Johnson, compiler of the book The Beatles And Me to help him track down evidence of his time as part of rock 'n' roll history.

John, who now plays regularly with the surviving Quarrymen, added: "I'm sure someone out there will, unknowingly, have some early black & white photos of the early Quarrymen; they're probably in a box in the loft, maybe taken by their Mums and Dads.

"They would have lived in the Garston, Woolton, Allerton, Mossley Hill areas of the City in the period 1957-1960.

"Of course, they would be quite valuable so that might prompt some, now in their 70s/80s, maybe former 'teddy-boys'."

Dean Johnson said: "I was able to unearth some really rare photos for my book, including John Lennon's last visit to Liverpool, so I'm hoping this appeal will solve this mystery."

If you think you have a picture of John with the band, contact Dean Johnson on 07539 371925 or deanjohnsonmusic@hotmail.com