ROYAL Air Force personnel from High Wycombe helped build a replica hut at a former prison camp made famous in the movie The Great Escape.

The hut was opened at the weekend at the site of Stalag Luft III in Zagan, Poland after two weeks work by personnel from RAF Halton and RAF High Wycombe.

It followed a £60,000 fundraising drive to build the hut, half the size of the Second World War structure.

Plans are now afoot to build a replica tunnel to further remember the RAF-led 1943 escape.

Squadron Leader Catherine Heath from RAF High Wycombe said: "People volunteered to do this because they really believe in what they're doing.

"They have been massively keen to get the project built. Of course their thoughts are with those who lost their lives. That's really where we got our drive from.

"It's an honour and dedication to those who lost their lives in the Great Escape.

"I will take numerous memories from this - from the fund-raising right through to learning the education surrounding the great escape and the prisoner of war life."

Group Captain Judith Good, Station Commander at RAF High Wycombe, said: "They have done absolutely brilliantly - it's really impressive.

"I'm chuffed to bits for the team and really proud of them and what they have achieved.

"They have learned a lot about themselves and what teamwork is all about and that's part of what kept the prisoners going."