Din l-Art Ħelwa is holding an exhibition of original pen drawings of World War II concrete defences found in the Maltese countryside and coastal areas to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.

The drawings by Stephen Spiteri will be on display at the Red Tower in Mellieħa (pictured).

The tower, a unique work of coastal fortification erected by the Knights of St John between 1647 and 1649, also served as a defensive position during World War II.

Hundreds of pillboxes were built immediately prior to the outbreak of the war in 1939 and in the opening years of the conflict. Many, unfortunately, disappeared after 1945 because they were unceremoniously swept away to make room for modern development or simply because they were abandoned and left to decay and fall apart.

The exhibition will be open from Saturday to November 7 from 10am to 4pm.