A FORMER RAF officer is surviving on a wartime ration diet of spam fritters and porridge for four months as she immerses herself in the 1940s.

Sally Barber, who served in the RAF for 16 years, is raising money for the Royal British Legion by embarking on a ration book challenge.

She is working her way through a 1940s cookbook to create a range of wartime meals including onion soup, cabbage sandwiches and bubble and squeak.

To add to her challenge she is also dressing in 1940s clothing for the entire four months. Mrs Barber, 40, hopes her venture will raise £4,000 for the Armed Forces charity.

The former Flight Lieutenant, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, began her bid on Saturday (June 28), Armed Forces Day, and will continue the challenge until Armistice Day on November 11.

She decided to take on the challenge as this year marks the 70th anniversary of major conflicts of the Second World War, including the recent D-Day commemorations.

“My grandmother served in the Royal Signals in World War Two and both my parents were born during that war,” she said.

“They took me to Normandy when I was three-years-old and taught me all about the D-Day landings and I’ve been interested in the military ever since.

“I can’t imagine the hardships many families, including my ancestors, faced during that time. They lived off very little food so I wanted to do this challenge to educate myself and others on what they went through.”

The Royal British Legion spends £1.4m per week providing a range of services to the whole Armed Forces community, from financial advice and housing support to representing veterans at their appeals for compensation.

To donate to Sally Barber’s fundraising target visit; www.justgiving.com/Sally-Barber5