BRITISH soldiers held captive during the Second World War had an ingenious way of keeping warm during the freezing winter months.

Scraps of tins, old cotton reels and leather laces were all cobbled together to make blower heaters, used to keep the prisoners warm and to heat up the unpalatable food they were forced to eat.

Eden Camp archivist Nick Hill said museum staff were delighted when a 21st century model was brought in by a visitor to the tourist attraction, outside Malton.

"A gentleman had made one because his family never believed him when he talked of the heaters," he said.

"We have two now at the camp, one made from the old Red Cross tins sent in food parcels, and the other which was donated to us."

Mr Hill said the heaters were designed to make the most of whatever was available.

"They were a very efficient way of heating up food and water.

"There was a handle which you turned and that drove a fan which created a blower effect.

"It meant that anything they could find to burn would be put on the fire."

He added: "I think I heard that in one camp there were more than 200 of them.

"They helped out to make life more tolerable for our lads."

Updated: 08:59 Wednesday, February 26, 2003