Inside UK ghost village empty since WW2 after British Army forced all locals to leave

dailystar.co.uk:

British Army kicked locals out to prepare for a Nazi invasion during WW2.Creepy pictures show Imber in Wiltshire empty apart from signs of military use, after stunned villagers were called to a meeting and given exactly 47 days to leave their homes behind.Although the Ministry of Defence promised to let them all return when the war finished, it remains in their control to this day.The area was given to US troops in December 1943, as Allied troops were preparing to invade mainland Europe and push back the Nazis.But today it is used by British fighters after a public inquiry recommended it stay under their control.It is a useful area for preparing for fighting in an urban environment and was used by soldiers preparing to battle the IRA in Northern Ireland.The village was well-stocked before locals had to leave and boasted a Baptist chapel, post office, council house style blocks and a local pub called the Bell In.Despite bombing and shell explosion damage throughout the war, the pub and council style buildings still stand to this day.A lot of the other buildings have become derelict or been destroyed by British soldiers.

But the village’s church has also stood the test of time and Friends of Imber Church's John Syme told the BBC: "It's a very important little church and has many memories for local people." Imber had long been an isolated town before the military took it over.Although it existed since the Saxon times and was written about as early as 967, the village remained sparsely populated and was mainly just home to farmers and people involved in the agricultural industry.It was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 – a time when it had just 50 people living there. Stay in the loop with all the Daily Star's latest.