VISITORS to a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Stourport will be given a taste of wartime life and the chance to hear the fascinating story of a former prisoner of war.

Taking pride of place in the display at the Social Day Centre on Saturday will be a model of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai, made by Bewdley's Royal British Legion chairman, Colin Evans.

Retired Bewdley postman, Evan Jasper, will recount how he ran for his life as the American bomber blew up the bridge which he had just crossed in a lorry with one of his Japanese captors.

The 86-year-old endured "hell on earth" as a prisoner of the Japanese in Thailand for three-and-a-half years and, because he understood some Japanese words, was taken by lorry to distribute supplies to their cook houses.

"As the bomb fell and destroyed the bridge we ran for our lives," said Mr Jasper, of Wyre Hill. "I was delighted but I can't tell you what the Japanese sergeant said - but I understood it."

After the American pilot returned to Thailand 40 years later for a re-run of the bombing - made famous in the David Lean film Bridge on the River Kwai - Mr Jasper tracked him down to his Texas ranch and has written to him about his memories of that historic day.

The day centre, off New Street, will be packed with memorabilia, including identification cards, wartime menus, ration books and samples of the rations people were allowed each week.

There will also be a bunker built by Club 55 Plus members, a working air siren and a Second World War lorry on display.

Refreshments will be available throughout the day and home-made cakes will be on sale, with all proceeds going to the day centre.

The event will open at 10.30am and visitors will also be treated to wartime music and dance performances, which will include jitterbugging.

Organiser, Muriel Smith, chairman of Club 55 Plus, which is based at the centre, said: "We want to raise some funds for the day centre and we thought it would be a good way to have a party and raise some money.

"A lot of people at the day centre remember the war and we thought it would be nice to show the younger generation what we had to put up with."

She added: "All we want is the weather and the people. It is open to the public. They can come and have a cup of coffee and a piece of cake."