Hidden World War Two message for German bombers revealed after wildfire tears through Irish countryside

Incredible aerial pictures show a World War Two landmark which was thought to have been lost forever - but which has reappeared after a wildfire.

Huge white letters spell out the word Éire - meaning Ireland - in Bray Head, County Wicklow, following a wildfire.

The whitewashed letters, made from stones and carved into the ground, were placed in locations across the country in a bid to prevent Ireland being accidentally bombed.

The country, under leader Éamon de Valera, remained neutral during the war - although it did provide support to Northern Ireland after it was bombed during the Belfast Blitz in 1941.

Around 80 signs were placed around the country in a message to warring bombers.

The Bray Head landmark was hidden for decades underneath vegetation, but was revealed again when this was burned by the fire.

It was spotted from a helicopter flown by Irish police force the Garda.

A spokesman told RTE: "The signs themselves are quite common on the west coast but unusual on the east.

"The Air Corps helped put the fire out and then the Garda helicopter, which we fly, noticed the sign emerging from the past."