THE night a bomb went off in Sutton Park Road is just one of the wartime memories which will feature in a book on Kidderminster life during the Second World War.

The book, being prepared by Kidderminster Historical and Archaeological Society, was prompted by the memories of a former Kidderminster woman now living in Brisbane, Australia.

Pam Melloy contacted the society about the bomb which she remembered going off in the field next to the family home in Sutton Park Road during an air raid in May, 1941.

Society member, Bob Millward, said: "Mrs Melloy was five at the time and told us how the bomb shattered all the windows and littered the house with sand from the crater but, amazingly, did little structural damage."

The huge size of the crater it left can be seen in the photograph, right, which shows Mrs Melloy, whose unmarried name was Jones, standing on the rim.

The second photo shows the Sutton Park Road victory party with the house, which was left relatively unscathed, in the background.

The family emigrated to Australia in 1947. After withstanding a wartime bomb, the house, which had been part of Kemp Hospice's site, has recently been demolished.

Dr Millward said: "Mrs Melloy contacted us after seeing our website to tell us about the bomb and that gave us the idea for the book.

"It is felt that to place these experiences on record is important, not only for present day Kidderminster folk, but also for future generations."

He is appealing for anyone else who has memories to come forward.

He said: "We are looking for photographs, memorabilia stories of rationing, blackouts, air raids - anything at all about life during the war."

Anyone who wants to contribute should either contact Bill Wood, chairman, on 01299 826011 or e-mail kidderhist.soc@virgin.net