This film is part of Free

Ditton Priors

Why is the sleepy village of Ditton Priors in Shropshire a designated target for a Russian nuclear attack?

News 1981 3 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for Media Archive for Central England

Overview

It must have been a surprise to the residents of Ditton Priors in 1981 when it was revealed that the Russians intended to treat the village as a nuclear target come the 3rd World War. Apparently the Soviets were relying on old maps which showed an American base in the village. The truth, which had yet to reach Moscow, was that the Americans moved out in 1968 taking their arsenal of weapons with them. John Swallow talks to the bemused villagers.

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