Great Escape hero Cyril is remembered

Civic leaders got together to remember a Shropshire war hero who was executed on Hitler's orders for his role in the Great Escape.

The Mayor of Wem, Councillor Pauline Dee, laid a posy of fresh spring flowers at the town's Cenotaph to mark the 65th anniversary of the escape.

Wem airman Cyril Swain, known as Sid, was one of 76 Allied prisoners-of-war who dug their way out of Stalag Luft III in March, 1944. The Great Escape has become one of the most famous incidents of World War II. Mr Swain was one of 50 Allied airmen later executed by the Nazis.