A derelict Wiltshire village that was left abandoned for decades is set to reopen next month, with visitors issued a warning if they want to explore.
Imber in Salisbury Plain, around six miles away from Warminster has been used as a military training site.
The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book, with the local church of St Giles dating back from the 1200s.
Population peaked at 440 according to the 1851 census, before declining sharply by the time of the 20th century.
While the village featured a pub called The Bell Inn and a small post office, the population had declined to around 150 by 1943.
In the early 20th century, the War Office had started began buying land on Salisbury Plain, mostly to the east of Imber, and using it for military training.
On November 1, 1943, with Britain preparing for the Allied invasion of mainland Europe, Imber residents were told they had 47 days to leave their homes as the area was to be used by US forces to practise street fighting.
After the war, the village remained in use for training British troops to fight in Northern Ireland during the Troubles before falling into disrepair.
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|The village has been left abandoned
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|St Giles's Church
Since 2009, an annual bus service called the Imberbus has taken history and military enthusiasts to the town on a driving tour of the area.
The Imberbus will be returning on Saturday, August 16, before the village reopens a week later.
From August 23 to 25, the site will be reopening to the public, providing a unique opportunity to explore its empty buildings and abandoned military vehicles.
However, visitors are warned that potential military debris and unexploded material remain at the site.
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|A Routemaster bus passes bulidings and former houses in the desserted village of Imber
In recent years, campaigners had called for the remote village to be fully reopened. It was last open to the public at Easter, with photos showing the abandoned village streets.
A 2001 report found that St Giles's has fallen in to severe disrepair, with the church tower being struck by lightning.
After a restoration project finished in 2008, the permitted annual service of public worship resumed in September 2009 on completion of the works.
Some members of the public and former residents have been buried at the churchyard, including Ray Nash in 2023, whose family lived in the village.
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|A general view of the abandoned village of Imber on the Salisbury Plain
Ray Nash was the nephew of Albert Nash, who had been the village blacksmith for over four decades.
According to local legend, Albert was found sobbing over his anvil when he found out the village was going to be evacuated.
He was the first resident to be brought back to Imber for burial after it was abandoned, with residents suggesting he died of a broken heart after being forced to leave the village.