Hundreds of bombs rained down on Epsom during World War Two (WWII) - 14 miles away from the towns widely known to have been devastated in central London.

A fascinating new interactive map, Bomb Sight, allows people to discover the toll Germany’s aerial bombardment took on their own doorstep during the Blitz, between October 1940 and June 1941.

Users can also submit photographs to the site and share their memories of the time.

The map of Epsom shows that high explosive bombs were dropped on locations including Waterloo Road, Epsom College, Hook Road, Upper High Street, Epsom Common, and Alexandra Road during the Blitz.

According to David Brooks, museum assistant at Bourne Hall, 134 high explosive bombs and parachute mines have been documented falling on Epsom and Ewell between September 1940 and June 1944, including seven unexploded bombs which were dealt with by the Royal Engineers.

Records indicate that many more, a total of 440 high explosive bombs and two parachute mines were actually dropped over the area, but the locations of most have never been confirmed.

25 people were killed and 168 injured during the WWII air raids.

Mr Brooks said that Epsom played an important role in protecting central London from invasion during the war as the area was a key outer defence line.

He said: "The main objective of the invading German forces would have been the capture of London and a system of defences was put in place from June 1940 to meet this. 

"The Outer London Defence Line was a continuous obstacle of rivers, canals, machine-dug ditches and road blocks covered by fortified houses, barbed wire, mine fields and dragons’ teeth - pyramidal shaped fortifications aiming to impede the movement of tanks.

"This defence line followed Christ Church Road, facing Epsom Common, until it got to Hollywood House where it cut away from the road behind the house into the grounds of the then Manor Park Hospital, to the point where they can still be seen today.

"There was a fortified house at the corner of West Hill Avenue, with the line leaving the borough at Epsom College."

He said there were also anti-aircraft guns mounted on the Horton Light Railway, within Horton Country Park, on carriages that moved up and down the line.

Visit Bomb Sight at www.bombsight.org

Do you have any memories or photographs of the bombings? Email Hardeep at hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk