A TV documentary to be screened tonight about the bombardment of the Yorkshire coast during the First World War proves that the British government knew about the attack a day and a half before it happened.

BBC North's Bombardment programme, to be shown on BBC2 at 7.30pm, tells the story of the bombing of Whitby and Scarborough on December 16, 1914.

Six battle cruisers from the German Navy attacked the towns, killing 152 people, wounding hundreds and causing terrible damage. But the British government had intercepted German signals over a day before the attack and was lying in wait to sink them on their return.

Producer Dan Farthing said: "Bombardment illustrates some amazing stories connected with the bombing. One woman received terrible injuries and is still alive."