KOSTAS Demetriades was 16 when he volunteered to join the British army in his native Cyprus.

Three years later, during the Second World War, he was captured by the Italians in Greece, accused of being a spy - and sent to be executed in a prison near Athens.

But 48 hours before he was due to be shot, he managed to give a Red Cross visitor his army number and was made a Prisoner of War.

He survived the next two years at a concentration camp in northern Italy, before managing to escape.

He then made an incredible journey across the Alps to freedom in Switzerland.

Now aged 83 and living in Bolton, Mr Demetriades was able to fulfil a lifelong wish to return to the camp and pay tribute to his fallen comrades, thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery.

He was accompanied by his grandson, Andreas Bruce, aged 17.

Mr Demetriades, of Withins Drive, Breightmet, said: "My grandson saw an advert for the Heroesi Return Grant in the Bolton Evening News. I applied in April and found out my application had been successful two weeks later.

"I was given a grant for £875. We went out there for two weeks in July, starting in Venice, then travelling by train to Udine in northern Italy and then on to the camp in Gonars.

"It was a very emotional journey. The last time Iid been on that route, I was running for my life.

"There's just a monument at the camp now. "

He told how he escaped from the camp in 1944 as Italy fell to the Allied forces.

The Italian Fascist guards deserted the camp and, before German troops moved in to replace them, he took his opportunity to flee.

"After a group of us escaped, the Germans came through and destroyed the place. Most of the prisoners were shot dead," he said.

"I think I had managed to survive in there because I had youth on my side and I could speak to the guards, as Iid learnt Italian at school.

"We used to receive Red Cross parcels and I used to swap some of the English tea in exchange for food

"A lot of people died from starvation and disease."

He added: "When we escaped it was winter and the local Italians helped us, taking us into their homes.

"We stayed hidden for a week, then they took us through the Alps.

"It was snowing and bitterly cold. Some of my friends suffered frostbite.

"It was very scary, but when youire young, you donit worry, you just run.

"We walked for three days to get into Switzerland, where we were refugees along with all other nationalities, including Germans."

At the end of the war, he moved to Britain where he worked as hairdresser in London.

He met his wife Agnes, a Swiss refugee, dancing at the London Lyceum and they celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary on Monday.

They moved to Bolton three years ago to be closer to their two daughters, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mr Demetriades said: "My grandson has always been interested in the history of the war and the fact that I was able to share this experience with him made the trip even more special."