IT WAS one of the darkest chapters in Southampton's history.

The city took a terrible pounding during the Second World War after the docks, the Supermarine Spitfire factory and other important installations made it a key target.

A relentless bombing campaign by the Luftwaffe left much of the area in ruins.

Southampton endured a total of 57 air raids during which 631 people were killed and 45,000 buildings were either damaged or destroyed. About 1,000 homes were wrecked.

Now Solent Sky Museum in Albert Road South has unveiled plans to launch a major new exhibition - Southampton's Home Front - in April.

The museum is seeking wartime artifacts, photographs and documents, plus uniforms, insignia and training manuals.

Some of the worst bombing raids in the city occurred in November and December of 1940 - the period which became known as Southampton's Blitz.

On November 23 77 people were killed and more than 300 injured. The huge raid ruined the city's water supply and many of the fires were left to burn themselves out.

According to reports the glow of the firestorm could be seen from as far away as Cherbourg on the French coast.

A Solent Sky spokesperson said: "Southampton is the home of the Supermarine Spitfire and during the war the city became a major target for the Luftwaffe’s bombing raids.

"The Spitfire factory was destroyed in September 1940 but Southampton residents continued to produce Spitfires throughout the war in secret locations.

"In April Solent Sky is opening a major new Lottery Heritage-funded exhibition showing how

Southampton residents coped with the relentless bombing raids."

During the war Nazi planes dropped 36 parachute mines, 2,593 high explosive bombs and 31,000 incendiaries. Two of the V1 flying bombs also descended on the city.

Solent Sky is hoping to receive donated items relating to the following services and organisations:

Women's Voluntary Service, Home Guard, Air Raid Precautions (ARP), the emergency services, Southampton Corporation Tramways, Royal Observer Corps, public utilities (gas, electric, water, telephone), barrage balloon squadrons, anti-aircraft artillery, uniformed youth groups, the Red Cross and the Spitfire dispersal factories.

The museum is also seeking old aluminium pots and pans for its "Spitfire Fund".