MILITARY enthusiasts have vowed to support plans to reopen a former prisoner of war camp as a tourist attraction.

North-East-based members of the Military Vehicles Trust drove from across the region in restored wartime vehicles to Harperley POW camp, near Wolsingham.

The area secretary for the North-East, Jon Kerr said it was a sign of the group's enthusiasm for the scheme to ensure World War Two history is not forgotten.

Mr Kerr said: "Our group aims to save military vehicles and restore and maintain them so they are not forgotten, which is the concept behind the reopening of the camp. We have been along to work on the site and hope to set up a display in one of the huts, and show a couple of vehicles here when it opens."

The camp, known as Camp 93 when it was build in 1943 to house low-risk Italian and German prisoners, was awarded scheduled monument status.

Owners of the site, James and Lisa McCleod, want to restore the 49 huts which had been used as hen huts and agricultural storage.

Mrs McLeod said: "It has been a great benefit to have members helping work on the site and really brings the place to life when they bring military vehicles.

"We want the camp to be authentic and educational so it will help to have the group's presence when we open."