A FORMER Feltham resident is so proud of his roots that he established an online group celebrating them despite moving 600 miles away.

Graeme Gurr went to Denmark two years ago and decided to set up The Feltham, Hanworth and Bedfont Appreciation Society on Facebook to remember the area.

He said he had no idea the group would attract more than 1,000 members, posting memories and photos of Feltham over the decades.

Mr Gurr said: "My first intention was to bring back memories mostly to those who had either grown up or working in the area by creating topics to discuss or by posting photographs.

"Within the first few months the interest was excellent and by the turn of that year we had just under 500 members and now as you see that number has doubled."

While surfers are still sharing memories of the town on the wall, they are particularly keen on uploading photos, with more than 1,000 posted so far. Some of the images go back long before the new developments in the town centre and even the shopping centre before that in the late 1960's.

Mr Gurr has moved on again since his time in Denmark, but he is still passionate about the online community he created.

He said: "I now find myself residing in Suffolk, but it (Feltham) still has a place in my heart. Growing up in Hanworth and enjoying a childhood by going to Crane Park and Hanworth Air Park was a regular activity in the summer and Saturday mornings were spent walking or taking the bus to Feltham purely to visit the market behind the old cinema, and then popping along to the toy shop."

As well as posting their memories on the wall, internet users can also share thoughts on a several discussion topics.

One resident has contributed to a section about where people used to live, the former Field Road householder said: "I lived there until I was 17 and it was the best time ever. We had such a good little estate where you could stay out till late and you didn't have to worry."

Paul Burnham, 43, of Peach Road in Hanworth, is a photographer and administrator for the page. The construction worker spends his spare time riding around Feltham on a push bike and taking photos for former residents who miss the area.

He said: "There are lots of pictures now. We all really care about the area, it's nice. I keep getting messages about photos and things too. I guess it just shows much people like the area."