A book exploring the lives of Polish exiles living in Britain has been turned into an exhibition at Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley.

Keeping the Faith focuses on the community that formed after Poland was invaded in the late 1930s and the Second World War.

The book and exhibition was prepared by Bradford Council museum staff, who talked to dozens of Polish expatriates around the UK.

The exiles' experiences over the succeeding decades are coupled with photographs taken both during and after the Second World War.

Tim Smith, who carried out the research with Michelle Winslow, said the Poles made up one of the biggest minority groups in Britain.

He said: "Little is known outside Polish circles about how and why they came to this country, and how their community has changed over the last 60 years."

Mr Smith said the Polish exodus was caused both by the war itself and the political settlements that came afterwards.

He said: "Their army had been the first to resist Nazi Germany, Britain had declared war in defence of Polish independence, and the Polish forces had fought to defend Britain.

"Yet at the end of the war, while the Allies celebrated their victory, many Poles found their homeland no longer existed, as eastern Poland was absorbed by the Soviet Union.

"For Poles displaced by the war a return to life under the rule of Stalin was both unacceptable and dangerous."

Keeping the Faith is at Cliffe Castle Museum until April 7. The museum is open Tuesdays-Saturdays 10am-5pm and Sundays noon-5pm.