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The 8th of August, 1963, a gang of thieves hold up a British Royal Mail train on its way from Glasgow to London.

More than two million pounds was stolen, and Ronnie Biggs was the most famous face of the great train robbery.

Daniel Mays reveals the true story of Ronnie Biggs.

A train robbery, a prison escape and 36 years on the run.

Gangster presents the story of Ronnie Biggs.

Listen first on BBC Sounds.

Hi guys, before we begin, a quick heads-up that this episode will have a graphic description of a crime scene right at the start.

So listener caution is advised.

We're starting today's case on the 5th of March 1879 and we're on the banks of the River Thames in London.

We're in the west of the city where the river loops around from Hammersmith towards Chiswick. It's early morning and Henry Wheatley, a labourer, is driving a cart full of coal along the river's edge. Henry travels this section of the river often on his daily runs to and from the coal yard, and it's enjoying the peace and quiet of the morning as the cart trundles along. At around 7 a.m., Henry is approaching

Barnes Bridge, but as he makes his way towards the crossing, he spots something, an object

lying at the edge of the river. It's partly submerged in the water.

He stops the cart to get a better look.

And he can see that it's a wooden box.

Henry jumps down and makes his way over to the box to investigate.

As he gets closer, he can see the box has a lid with hinges.

And the whole thing has been lashed together with rope.

It's clear that the person who dumped this box wanted to keep the content secure.

Some excitement, hoping he'll find something valuable inside.

Henry manages to haul the box out of the river.

Once it's safety on dry land, he uses his knife to cut through the rope. After a few minutes, Henry has freed the box from its

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