The Great Panjandrum to appear on North Devon beach

A SECRET weapon that was tested on North Devon beaches on the eve of D-Day is being recreated.

The exotically-named Great Panjandrum was a rocket propelled contraption designed to destroy sea defences during the 1944 Normandy invasion.

Tomorrow at 7.30am a team of fireworks experts will attempt to recreate it on the beach at Westward Ho!

The stunt will mark the launch of the 2009 Appledore Book Festival brochure.

The original Great Panjandrum was 10 feet high and 7 feet wide and shaped like a giant Catherine wheel.

It was moved to Appledore in secrecy before arriving at Westward Ho! in September, 1943.

Then — despite the cloak and dagger approach — testing was carried out on the beach in front of holidaymakers.

Jim Jackson, the Book Festival's special events organiser said: "I've always been fascinated by military history and weapons developed in World War II and it was a privilege to combine a salute to everyone who took part in the preparations for the D-Day landings with the launch of the Appledore Book Festival brochure."

The new Panjandrum is being prepared by Bedminster fireworks company Skyburst with help from Tony Koorlander, the film archive specialist who recently won national acclaim for uncovering rare footage of US and British troops training for D-day on North Devon's beaches.

Skyburst display director Leigh Pittaway said: "This is a very exciting project. Most of the guys working for Skyburst are used to blowing things up so this is something different and has aroused great interest. We're bringing a team of 10. We don't really need that many but a lot of them just wanted to come along and be involved in something so unusual."

The original Great Panjandrum was to be packed with 400lbs of high explosive to blow a hole in Hitler's sea defences. It was supposed to charge forward across the sand at about 60mph after being launched from a landing craft — but sadly the trials at Westward Ho! beach ended in disaster.

Everything was going well until some rockets broke free and the device hit bumps in the sand.

The Panjandrum careered out of control forcing an impressive line-up of scientists, VIPS and assorted generals to run for their lives and seek shelter behind the pebble ridge.

That signalled the end of the Panjandrum and it was never used in anger.

Mr Pittaway said: "We will be very happy if we can reach speeds of up to 15 mph. We estimate that our Panjandrum could run up to 500 metres but I've arranged for the beach to be closed for at least a kilometer, just to be on the safe side."

Skyburst managing director, Alan Christie, said: "Our Panjandrum will be made from a modified cable drum and is about half the size of the orginal. We won't get a chance to test it so we have one chance to get it right."

● Part of Westward Ho! beach will be shut between 7am and 8.30am tomorrow. Spectators are advised to stay on the pebble ridge.