‘There, they didn’t even wake up.’ Kathy gave a big yawn. ‘Let’s hope it doesn’t go on for too long so we can get them back to bed.’ Crossing to the fire she stirred it into life with a poker and then threw on some of the wood that she had collected from the copse. Even coal was getting harder to buy now but as they were surrounded by trees, thankfully they always had enough fuel to keep the house warm and cosy.

‘Fancy a brew?’ Kathy asked as she lit the oil lamp. Scarcely had the words left her mouth when they heard the drone of enemy planes overhead.

Sunday shuddered. ‘I bet they’re heading for Birmingham again,’ she muttered tiredly. ‘God help the poor souls.’

Kathy nodded and she had only just filled the kettle when the sound of an explosion sounded in the distance. ‘Dear God, it sounds like our town is getting it again,’ she muttered. ‘Let’s hope it doesn’t go on for too long.’

Dousing the light, she crossed to the window and twitched the blackout curtains aside to peer up into the sky. ‘My God, they’re dropping incendiary bombs,’ she gasped, horrified. ‘And with the moon so bright tonight and the fires from the incendiaries everything beneath will be an easy target.’

Sunday joined her and her heart leapt into her mouth as she watched the deadly planes releasing their bombs. It looked like the majority of the town was being hit and she could only pray that being a little way out of it they would be safe.

They were still there when an urgent banging came on the back door and when Sunday hurried to answer it, still in her dressing gown with her long grey hair hanging in a plait across her shoulder, she found John standing there with George behind him.

‘We’ve come to take you all up to the house,’ he told her in a voice that brooked no argument. ‘It’s not safe for you all to be here.’

‘But the children are safe and asleep in the Morrison shelter,’ Sunday pointed out.

He shook his head. ‘That’s as may be but where will you and Kathy shelter if they drop any bombs before they get to the town? There isn’t enough room in that for all four of you, so come along and stop arguing. I won’t take no for an answer. I have a horrible feeling this is going to be the worst raid yet.’

Seeing that he meant business, she allowed him and George to push past her to get the children.

‘I’ll just get dressed and then I’ll follow you,’ she told him, but he shook his head.

‘Just throw a coat and some shoes on. There’s no time for messing about. I have the cellar all ready for us.’