A HEREFORDSHIRE woman has retraced the steps of her Norwegian father when he fled the Nazis and certain death more than 60 years ago.

Ellie Targett (ne Smme), from Lucton, can hardly remember her father Sven Smme, who died in 1961, when she was very young and he was just 58.

However, using his notes, Ellie (right) along with her sister Yulie and brother Bert, traced his steps over the mountains to freedom in neutral Sweden.

On her way she met some of the families who sheltered her scientist father who worked for the Norwegian resistance.

Now Ellie has written Another Man's Shoes, in memory of both her father and Uncle Iacob who was shot by the Germans as a spy.

The book is a combination of Ellie's journey and the writings of her father.

It is, above all, a cracking good adventure story about a very brave man who, having been captured by the Germans, would almost certainly have faced torture and death.

The historical background is that Norway was invaded and fell under German control in 1940. Neighbouring Sweden managed to stay out of the conflict and was officially neutral.

While most Norwegians, as is the case with any occupied people, did not like it, they got on with their lives as best they could.

But there was a significant resistance movement, in which Sven Smme was an active member.

He was a scientist who could have sat out the war in relative comfort but, instead, decided to provide information to the resistance.

Equipped with a small Leica camera, he was photographing a German submarine base when he was spotted by soldiers and captured.

While being taken to interrogation, and almost certain execution, he managed to escape and made a 200-mile journey over the mountains to safety in Sweden.

His eight weeks on the run took place in high summer but the Scandinavian mountain tops were still covered in snow.

It is a story not just of one man's courage and endurance but also of the bravery of the people that helped him at considerable risk to themselves.

Some of these people Ellie met when she retraced her father's steps.

One poignant meeting resulted in her being handed a pair of shoes worn by Sven during his escape and exchanged for a pair of mountain boots by one of the people who helped him make good his escape.

Reading the book makes you wish that you had a few million pounds to spare because the story has all the making of a good film.

Last year, marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, resulted in many books about this long ago conflict.

Another Man's Shoes is worth its place in any library of great escape adventures.

The book is published by Polperro Heritage Press, price £9.95, and is also available by post from Polperro Heritage Press, Clifton-upon-Teme, Worcestershire, at £11, including postage and packing.

Ellie is due to sign copies of her book in Hereford's Waterstones, next Wednesday, from 10am.