THE mystery surrounding the crash of a Second World War Lancaster bomber could be solved by two aircraft enthusiasts.

Geoff Arnott, 26, and Adam Wright, 32, are seeking permission to excavate a site in North Yorkshire where the plane came down almost 60 years ago.

A propeller from the 50-tonne plane was recently brought to the surface on the private land, near Easingwold, when it was being ploughed.

If given the go-ahead from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and authorities controlling war graves, the enthusiasts will be able to excavate the site.

"We have done plenty of research into the aircraft and the crash and built up a better picture as to what happened. We know what squadron it came from, details of the crew, and perhaps that the plane was on fire as it came down," said Mr Arnott.

"This is living history and it is an important part of our heritage here in North Yorkshire. Many people do not realise how many airfields there were in this area and the enormous role that they played in winning the Second World War.

"We hope to be able to speak to the crew who survived the accident, but time is of the essence because people's memories age and we don't know if they are still alive."

Mr Arnott has already contacted the MoD, the Canadian Air Force and Elvington Air Museum as part of his investigations into the crash.