Thieves break into ex-POW camp

Hundreds of prisoners of war were housed at Harperley camp

Work to transform a former prisoner of war camp into a visitor attraction has been hit by thieves who have made off with vital construction equipment.

Thieves stole a £6,000 digger from Harperley POW Camp, in Weardale, County Durham, on Tuesday night.

The mini excavator was being used to carry out essential work at the site before it opens to the public.

The camp housed hundreds of low-security-risk Italian and German prisoners during World War II.

The camp is one of the best preserved of its kind in the country and was featured in the BBC's Restoration series.

It was recently awarded £200,000 from Defra's Rural Enterprise Scheme to turn the site into a tourist attraction.

Under the plans, the camp will get a 1940s-style tearoom, a farm shop, a caravan site and other attractions for visitors.

A reward of £1,000 is being offered for information leading to the return of the excavator, which is white and has the word "Bobcat" on the side.