DESCRIPTIONS of the Chapelhay area of Weymouth as 'a bombsite' earlier this month got regular Looking Back contributor Stuart Morris thinking.

Traders said overgrown grass, litter and dog mess was affecting their businesses and said they feel ‘forgotten’ by the council.

Stuart, of Portland, said: "While hoping the Chapelhay traders get their overdue clean-up, their description of the area as a ’bombsite’ is of course true.

"This photo shows bombed-out St Leonard's Road/Spring Gardens in about 1949.

"As the writing on the wall shows this derelict site was used as a 'Street Fighting Area' by the forces."

During the Second World War, which began in September 1939, Weymouth, along with other South Coast towns, found itself in the front line.

Weymouth suffered its first air-raid in June 1940 and although the total damage during the war was less severe than in other places, the town still had to endure nearly 50 raids before the final "all clear" sounded.

More than 500 bombs rained on Weymouth. One landmine practically demolished the whole of Chapelhay.

The Echo offices were bombed, and production of the paper was switched to Bournemouth until 1949.

During these years, little operational news leaked out.

It wasn't until the end of the war that the country was told how Weymouth and Portland had been used as embarkation points for D-Day landing forces.

Weymouth's memories of the war were many: Columns of Germans marching through the town on their way to PoW camps; U-boats surrendering in the Bay after the war; a brief visit by Charles De Gaulle, then leader of the Free French forces; the erection of those "temporary" prefabs.

*DO you have any memories of the bombing of Chapelhay to share with us? Does anyone know exactly what happened in the 'street fighting area' of Chapehay? If so get in touch with Looking Back by calling 01305 830973 or email joanna.davis@dorsetecho.co.uk