THE owner of a small museum dedicated to the life of a woman - who was a British spy during the Second World War - is holding an open day. 

Violette Szabo was a secret agent working for the Special Operations Executive during the war. She took on numerous special missions behind enemy lines. As a result of her bravery she was awarded the George Cross, the first woman to receive the award, and the Croix du Guerre in France.

And now Rosemary Rigby, who lives at the house in Wormelow, where Violette spent time las a child and returned home during her visits back to England between missions, is hosting an open day on July 7.

The Violette Szabo Museum first opened its doors in June 2000 and was the brainchild of Ms Rigby, who was Violette's aunt. 

After many years of fundraising and collecting artefacts from people who knew Violette or had served with her during the war came to fruition on that day. 

So great were Violette Szabo’s war time escapades that these were immortalised in the 1958 film Carve Her Name with Pride, with Virginia McKenna playing Violette - who attended the first fund raising event to launch the appeal with £20,000.

The museum houses many amazing photographs that chart Violette's childhood through to her marriage with many happy family photographs belying what was to come. 

The museum opens every Wednesday in April through to September. But on Sunday, July 7, the museum will open at 2pm with a number of guests, who will reveal more about Violet’s life. The museum is located at Cartref, Tump Lane, Wormelow, HR2 8HN.