The abandoned Wiltshire village of Imber, known as a 'ghost village' since its evacuation in 1943, has been opened to the public for a single day. Vintage Routemaster buses transported visitors to the site, which is normally off-limits as it lies within a Ministry of Defence training area.
Imber was cleared during World War Two to provide a training ground for US troops preparing for the invasion of Europe. Residents were given only a few weeks' notice to leave before the community was abandoned in December 1943. The military later took over the village permanently.
In the 1970s, several empty houses were constructed for use by UK soldiers during training exercises. The only original building still intact, St Giles Church, was also opened to visitors for the weekend. The annual event has been held since 2009.
