Treasured somewhere in Edna Bews's house is the autograph of music hall star Gracie Fields.

The popular singer was just one of a multitude of household names to appear at the wartime Avro factory in Yeadon in the 1940s.

The music-hall doyenne was a popular attraction when she was booked to sing one lunchtime in the canteen of the Avro factory. She was a star brought to keep the workers happy. And that was imperative for this was no ordinary production line.

At its height the Avro factory employed 17,500 people and built aeroplanes that were desperately needed to protect the liberty of millions across Europe and the globe, as Britain battled for supremacy in the Second World War.

In its heyday Avro covered 1.5 million square feet of land at the site of today's bustling Leeds Bradford International Airport.

But it was a somewhat different operation when the factory opened in 1940 and the employees produced more than 5,000 aircraft including 695 Lancaster Bombers before halting aircraft production in 1946.

And now to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first Lancaster Bomber built at the site a special plaque has been unveiled at the airport.

About 40 former Avro employees gathered in the Departures Lounge of the airport to witness the unveiling of the plaque.

For many it was the first time they had been reunited for almost 50years.

Gerald Myers, author of a book about the factory, entitled Mother Worked at Avro, said the plaque commemorates the work of all the employees but added it pays special tribute to the female employees, who made up almost 60 per cent of the total workforce.

"It's amazing when you think about the factory. Back then Yeadon only had a population of 10,000 people and yet there were 17,500 people working at the site.

"Homes for the employees had to be built in places like Guiseley, Menston and Yeadon and a whole squadron of buses brought people from across West Yorkshire to the factory.

"Most of the employees were conscripted to work so there was no chance of not working."

Mr Myers published his book in 1995 and even today the 68-year-old is full of admiration for the workforce.

"The whole factory and everyone in it really did contribute to Britain's war effort. Everyone always has admiration for the soldiers who fought but without these guys building the planes we wouldn't have been as strong as we were.

"The factory really was a bit of local history but also it is part of the nation's history as well."

In total 4,000 Avro Arson planes were built at the factory. As well as the 695 Lancaster Bombers, there were 100 Avro Yorks.

"The factory worked seven days a week, 24 hours a day," said Mr Myers. "Employees worked a 69 hour week and had three daytime shifts and then three night shifts."

As well as being a non-stop production line, the factory had a doctor and a fire service unit on site.

Edna Bews, 86, vividly remembers her time at Avro. She worked in a number of departments.

"I really enjoyed my time at the factory," said Mrs Bews. "I remember working for 12 hours a day which was really tiring but it was enjoyable.

"I remember the time Gracie Fields came down to sing and I got her autograph on a piece of paper. But the paper was a piece of company paper with some important instructions on so I got a telling off from my boss! But I got to keep the paper in the end which was nice."

Mrs Bews added that 5,000 people would cram into the canteen to watch the performers and have meals.

Another former employee George Modley began working at the factory straight after leaving school at 16.

The 75-year-old spent two years working in the aerodrome department as an aircraft fitter before leaving to serve in France, Egypt and Palestine as a soldier.

"It was just about the best job I ever had," he said of his time at Yeadon.

"There was a great deal of interest for me as I was plane mad at the time. They'd ask me to work late and I'd say yes if they'd let metest fly some of the planes. It was the dream job."

Leslie Briggs has grimmer memories of Avro. The 81-year-old was loaned out from college at the RAF, where he was

studying mechanics, to work at the

factory.

"I'd just finished my mechanics course and I was hoping to get in the planes when I was called in to help out. I quite enjoyed the work but didn't enjoy the social side of it. There were long hours and not much chance of socialising.

"Luckily, I worked for ten months from March to November 1942 and then I was posted down to a place near Stratford-Upon-Avon in the RAF."

Councillor Denise Atkinson, chairman of Leeds Bradford International Airport, said: "In its 71 year existence the

airport has been part of many important

developments, but arguably none more

so than when, during the Second World War, it was an integral part of Avro Yeadon.

"Avro's 17,500 workers, who were mostly conscripts, worked hard and long to

produce in excess of 4,000 aircraft. A massive task, which is now acknowledged by this plaque."

Mr Myers added: "My feeling is that the whole thing was a mammoth and hugely successful effort.

"If it hadn't been for factories like this one there wouldn't have been the materials built which helped us win the war."