Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs has visited Britain several times in disguise during his 35 years on the run, the gang's leader, Bruce Reynolds, has revealed.

Reynolds made the claim about Biggs, who is due to return from his Brazil hideaway to face arrest in Britain, while at Didcot Railway Centre for the filming of a new documentary on the 1963 heist.

Jeanette Howse, marketing executive at the railway centre, said: "I actually talked to Bruce Reynolds, the ring-leader who was the mastermind behind the robbery, and we were talking about Ronnie. He said to me that Ronnie has been in and out of the country several times.

"He told me that he is a master of disguises and I should not to be surprised at what he could do."

Mrs Howse said she did not believe Biggs was flown to England for the filming in Didcot.

It is believe that Carlton Television tried to interview the 71-year-old fugitive at his home in Rio de Janiero, but were unable to because of his ill health.

Reynolds and three other men involved in the Great Train Robbery - Jimmy White, Tommy Wisbey, Gordon Goody - were filmed at the railway centre for the documentary.

Producers chose the location because the centre has a Royal Mail coach, one of a set that would have been involved in the notorious crime if it had not been out of action for maintenance.