A MODEL of one of the aircraft used to train wartime aircrew at RAF Millom forms part of an extended display being put together by enthusiasts at the Millom Discovery Centre.

The Avro Anson model, with a seven-feet wingspan, has been put in place in an annexe at the museum at the Station Buildings by Jack Park and Pete Langley.

It was built by Mr Langley and has taken him 290 hours of detailed work to complete. John Nixon founded the former RAF Millom Museum on part of a Second World War airfield which is now used by Haverigg Prison.

He has been helping to expand material on the work of the airfield, which opened in January 1941 for RAF use and from 1953 trained army.

The new display area is due to be open by the autumn.

Mr Nixon said: “Pete has shown enormous dedication as a museum staff member and travels from his home in Staffordshire on a regular basis to help us develop our collection and displays.

“As the only South Cumbrian aviation organisation dealing with the airfields of Millom, Cark and Walney, we aim over the coming months and years to provide a growing research resource for enthusiasts.

“We welcome groups and will do our best to assist with RAF-associated genealogy and work very closely with the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum and the Solway Aviation Museum at Carlisle which greatly extends our research work.

“If anyone would like to contribute exhibits or photographs they can be assured that they will be in very safe hands and would be most welcome.”

Mr Nixon is also working on an update of his research for a book on the history of RAF Millom to include its role in the development of the RAF mountain rescue service.

The Millom Discovery Centre has displays on Millom mining and shipping, railways and rural life.

It is open on Mondays to Saturdays from 10.30am to 3.30pm and on Sundays from 10.30am to 1.30pm.