THE story of how an Oswaldtwistle family helped German prisoners of war befriend residents will be on television this autumn.

A book written by Pamela Howe Taylor, who spent several years in East Lancashire as a girl, will be featured in a BBC documentary about Stanhill Camp.

The Time Watch programme will focus on Pamela's father, the Rev Joseph H Howe, who was Methodist minister in Oswaldtwistle between 1944 and 1949.

At the end of the Second World War, more than 200 German prisoners were detained at Stanhill Camp, where Mr Howe was named Protestant padre.

He visited the captives and conducted services in a corrugated Nissen hut which was the site's chapel.

Pamela, who now lives in Devon, said: "I was a young girl when we lived in York House Manse in Union Road in Oswaldtwistle.

"People at Mount Pleasant Methodist Church, which is now Rhyddings, suggested prisoners should be allowed to attend services at the church.

"Then, at Christmas in 1946, the Government announced prisoners should be allowed into private homes.

"My father asked the congregation to take prisoners in for Christmas Day, and from that many friendships began which are still going on today."

Pamela's experiences have been recorded in a book which was first published two years ago and recently reprinted.

The book, Enemies Become Friends, is featured in the Time Watch documentary which will be broadcast in November on BBC2.

A programme made for BBC Radio 2, called Entertaining The Enemy, will also be on air from 9pm on Tuesday, November 9, featuring interviews with Oswaldtwistle residents.

Stanhill Camp eventually closed in summer 1947 and prisoners were sent to other North West sites.

Pamela, now 59, who also spent time in Rishton and Brierfield as a youngster, added: "I have been interviewed for the programme and I'll be very interested to see what they make of the story.

"I remember a lot about those times. I have fond memories of Lancashire and occasionally go back to visit the area."

Enemies Become Friends is published by The Book Guild, priced £6.95, and is available in local bookshops.

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