ALCESTER'S branch of the Royal British Legion is seeking help from residents in preserving one of the town's Second World War air raid shelters.

Secretary David Malin said the Legion's town branch was hoping to renovate one of the four shelters currently sited behind houses in Bleachfield Street and possibly relocate it, maybe near the cemetery on Birmingham Road.

He said the shelters were nearing the end of their use, either by degeneration or the need to create more space, and they were hoping to save at least one as a memorial for all those Alcestrians who had served at home and abroad during the war.

"It's going to be quite a costly task, we have been given a quote between £6,000 and £7,000. We're just looking for anyone who can help, whether it's with the building work, drawing up plans, or volunteers to clean bricks and move them to another site," he said.

Mr Malin added they hoped getting other people involved would make it more of a community project involving local people, as well as savings costs for the project.

"We were trying to do it for this year for the 60th anniversary of the end of the war but it has become such a big project it has become more of an 'as and when'," he said.

"But now the shelters are actually falling down at the moment, so it's becoming more urgent."

Anyone wishing to get involved can call the Legion Admin office on 01789 763113.