The Germans have asked former British troops to help fund the restoration of the notorious World War Two prison camp at Colditz.

The mayor of the town of Colditz said $60 million is needed to restore the notorious castle.

However, some of its former inmates are less than enthusiastic about the plan.

The myth of Colditz spawned books, a television series and films with tales of inventive bids for freedom, and British pluck in the face of adversity.

Only 30 British POWs managed to escape from the fortress.

Selling the myth

The town of Colditz in Eastern Germany wants to capitalise on its notoriety, but needs urgent funds to stop the castle crumbling away.

Mayor of Colditz Manfred Heinz wants cash from British investors to turn the castle into a memorial

Manfred Heinz, Mayor of Colditz said: "The Colidtz story has mythical status and I know I can make that myth work for me economically.

"I can imagine investors from whatever part of business, telling their customers they are based at Colditz Castle, that will be great for advertising."

But the attempts to raise money have been dismissed as tasteless by some of the last survivors of the prison camp.

Former Colditz POW Kenneth Lockwood says let the castle crumble

Kenneth Lockwood failed in his attempt to escape from Colditz.

He spent four years there, and like other former POWs is not convinced by arguments that a renovated Colditz would stand as a monument to the prisoners.

He said: "That fact is, we are not interested in being commemorated. It is ridiculous, no way would we support that.

"If the place falls down, well so be it."

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