Bath blitz deaths remembered in service

A service is being held to remember more than 400 people who lost their lives during a World War II bombing campaign over Bath in 1942.

The event, organised by the Bath Blitz Memorial Project, is taking place at Royal Victoria Park's war memorial.

Jim Warren, from the project, said: "It was three days in the history of Bath.

"Every time the planes came over... a lot of people thought they were going for Bristol and they didn't actually take cover."

Mr Warren said that some of those who died had never been identified.

"There were 417, not all residents of Bath, some were visitors coming through.

"We identified about 408 of them, but there are some who are just in the records as unknown."

He said: "We try to get the children interested in what happened because it's one way of preserving the memories.

"This year Paragon School have taken a great interest in it, so the wreath's going to be laid by their head boy and head girl."

The 2008 service was attended by German Luftwaffe pilot Willi Schludecker who flew in the raids and wanted to apologise to the city.