OXFORD author and historian Julie Summers is appealing to women who were widowed during Second World War to help with her new book.

After the war more than four million servicemen and women were demobbed and came home to take up life in post-war Britain.

The local historian's new book, Stranger In The House, will tell the story of their readjustment to family life and the effect that their return had on their families.

Ms Summers is also keen to include stories in her book from women who were widowed during the war. She also wants to hear from children whose fathers were killed.

Stranger In The House contains stories from mothers, wives, daughters, grand-daughters, sisters, cousins and carers about how they coped.

The book will be published by Simon & Schuster in September and there will be an accompanying exhibition at the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester from October to February.

She said: "Over 300,000 women were widowed in the Second World War. Often their men died on battlefields far away. These were young, fit men in the prime of life, some of whom had been married for weeks or months and the impact of their death on their families was enormous.

"Hundreds of thousands of children grew up never knowing their fathers and this had a big effect on their subsequent lives. How did these women cope after the war? Some remarried, but many did not."

She added: "I can reassure anyone who might wish to get in touch that all stories will be treated with respect and, if anonymity is requested, this will be preserved.

Ms Summers can be contacted on 01865 712039 or info@juliesummers.co.uk