A FORMER German prisoner of war in Skipton has been reunited once again with the guard he made friends with nearly 60 years ago.

Franz Bergstein and Bill Higson's friendship started after Mr Bergstein was brought to the town after his U-boat surrendered in the Irish Sea in 1945.

He spent two years at the Overdale camp and during this time worked at Mr Higson's parents' farm on Shortbank Road.

Mr Higson met the prisoner of war when he returned from serving with the Duke of Wellington regiment in India. He was made a guard at the town's camp.

By this time his family had already taken Mr Bergstein under their wing and would give him food, even allowing him to eat with them at the table.

Mr Bergstein said: "I did not feel like a prisoner of war."

When Mr Higson's father died in 1947 the prisoner was even given permission to attend his funeral.

Mr Higson's friendship with him grew after his mother died and Mr Bergstein, who lives in Aachen, continued writing to the family.

This correspondence has kept going more than 50 years and now the men feel like each other's extended family, having made numerous trips to see each other and speaking regularly on the telephone.

Mr Higson attended Mr Bergstein's daughter's wedding and the families have even spent Christmas together before.

He said: "I have been going out to Germany for the last 40 years and when I first went out I couldn't speak any German but by staying with Franz and living with his family you learn to speak the language."

Mr Bergstein flew home yesterday (Thursday) after a two-week stay with the Higsons.

The pair have enjoyed day trips and meals out with other friends, including Sam Bottomley.

Mr Bottomley, who was also a submariner, was introduced to Mr Bergstein nine years ago.

"I got him a Navy rum and we have been friends ever since," he said.

During their time together, the ex-guard and former prisoner have been able to reminisce about their days in the camp and the prisoners' (often successful) attempts to sneak out of camp at night, usually to meet girlfriends.

Mr Higson said: "Roll call was at 10pm at night. We knew they were getting out and we knew what they were up to. The joke was to catch them on their way back in because they were tired."