A MEMORIAL to men falsely imprisoned at a Second World War prison camp in Bury has been unveiled.

Commemorating the fate of hundreds of Germans, Italians and Austrians interned at the Warth Mills camp, the memorial consists of a series of concrete casts of suitcases ­— similar to the ones internees would have carried to the camp.

The sculpture was finally revealed this week outside the Aksa Homes Park Royal housing development, off Warth Road, at a ceremony attended by councillors and representatives of the Jigsaw Homes group.

Leader of Bury Council, Councillor Rishi Shori, said: “Local history is an integral part of a community and this superb memorial, albeit remembering unhappier times, will add to our knowledge.

"It also reminds us of people’s need for a safe and happy home, which this development of affordable housing will bring to those in Bury who need it.”

The memorial has been arranged in association with the Warth Mills Project, and marks the end of their year long endeavour to share the long-forgotten history of the internment camp and its victims.

As the Nazis conquered Europe thousands of Germans, Italians and Austrians living in Britain were identified as “Enemy Aliens”, rounded up and sent to camps like Warth Mills.

There they experienced deplorable conditions with sparse food and poor sanitation.

Imprisonment at Warth Mills was finally ended following the sinking of SS Arandora Star on July 2, 1940, when hundreds of men transported from Bury drowned on their way to Canada, after the ship was torpedoed.

The building still exists and is now offices and industrial units.

Richard Shaw, director of Unity House, the team behind the Warth Mills Project, said: "The installation of this memorial brings to a close a really fascinating project.

"We're used to being asked to make content about interesting subjects, but being funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to deliver this project and tell this story has been an absolute honour.

"We hope people continue to explore the website and visit the memorial. There's so much more to discover about this period in Bury's history, I'm sure this isn't the end."