IT is hard to believe it now but it was not until the late 19th century that Padgate was anything more than a few scatted farms.

Then a railway station was built on the new Cheshire Line between Liverpool in 1874.

But it was not until the Second World War that the area began to grow.

From 1939 to 1957 the population of Padgate was swelled by thousands of Royal Air Force (RAF) recruits.

And one of them is rather famous.

Janice Hayes, historian, takes up the tale in her book The A to Z of Warrington.

She said: "Number 3 RAF Depot Padgate opened in April 1939 as part of Britain’s preparation for a Second World War. The War Office requisitioned over 300 acres of farmland from Blackbrook to Padgate and Houghton Green and within a month the training centre, accommodation huts, and parade grounds appeared on a site which often flooded.

"Distinguished First World War pilot Group Captain Gilbert Insall VC was the first camp commander responsible for instilling basic discipline into raw young recruits, kitting them out with uniform and military haircuts and assessing their permanent service roles.

"As the war progressed RAF Padgate’s intake increased to 7,000 to meet the turnover of bombing crews attacking enemy territory. Local residents became familiar with the sounds of military exercises and machine-gun fire while Padgate’s churches provided welcome social events and a surrogate family atmosphere for homesick youths.

"After the war ended in 1945 Padgate camp continued to give eight weeks’ basic training for young men undertaking their National Service in the RAF, including future Rolling Stone Bill Wyman.

"Group Captain Insall returned for the final passing out ceremony in 1957.

"The site fell into disuse until the 1980s when it was redeveloped as part of Warrington New Town plans.

"Links to the former camp were retained with streets named after former RAF aircraft such as the Wellington bomber and the road at the heart of the old site named Insall Road.