One of the last survivors of a Japanese ship which was sunk with hundreds of British prisoners of war has attacked plans to raise the wreck, saying those on board should be left in peace.

Dennis Morley, a 22-year-old in the Royal Scots regiment when the Lisbon Maru was sunk in 1942, says that it should be left as a war grave in the East China Sea.

The plans to raise the ship are being led by a Chinese film-maker Fang Li, who has the backing of some of the families.

More than 1,800 British prisoners of war were being taken from Hong Kong to Japanese labour camps in the hold of the cargo ship when it was hit on October 1 1942.

The guards battened down the hatches to try and drown the prisoners before shooting at those who escaped. More than 820 died.

Mr Morley, now 98 and the only survivor left in Britain, told the BBC: "It's no good getting them out. They're all dead. They are probably bleached bones now.