CHILDREN have gained an insight into the making of an epic war film from a military historian at the heart of the action.

Andy Robertshaw was the lead historical consultant on Steven Spielberg’s 2011 hit film War Horse and also appeared in six scenes as an extra.

On Friday, Mr Robertshaw visited three schools in Teesdale, County Durham, and captivated youngsters with entertaining stories from behind the scenes.

Set before and during the First World War, War Horse tells the story of a bay thoroughbred horse called Joey who is raised in Devon by a teenager called Albert Narracott.

When war breaks out, Albert’s father sells Joey to the Army but the horse is later captured by the Germans.

The film follows Joey’s journey through the war and the dramatic and tragic events that precede his reunion with Albert.

At Staindrop Primary School, the film and Mr Robertshaw’s presentation brought the First World War to life.

Year six pupils have been studying the conflict with their teacher, Lesley Davidson, and the children hung on the military historian’s every word.

During sixteen weeks of filming in various locations across southern England, Mr Robertshaw advised Spielberg, members of the cast and hundreds of extras on how to make the production as historically accurate as possible.

He also explained how some of the stunts were carried out, including the scene where Joey jumps over a tank and the distressing moment when the horse, which was actually a robot, gets trapped in barbed wire.

The children were fascinated when he told them about the equine make-up team, and enjoyed guessing how many horses played Joey, 13, and how much the film cost to make, £52m.

Mr Robertshaw’s humorous account of having to film a scene again and again due to actors falling over, meanwhile, had the youngsters in stitches.

“It was fantastic,” said Miss Davidson.

“We studied World War One at the beginning of the year and this was a good way to bring it all together. The fact Andy was talking about a film really captured the children’s attention, and it was nice to listen to someone who was actually there when it was filmed.”

Mr Robertshaw, from Kent, said he had been impressed by the questions the children asked, adding: “I never fail to be surprised by the amount of insight children can bring, especially considering very few of them had seen the film or read the book.”

Mr Robertshaw, the former head of education at The National Army Museum in London, also gave talks at Staindrop Academy and Teesdale School and Sixth Form.

The visit was the first significant event organised by Staindrop History and culminated in a presentation and screening of War Horse at Scarth Hall in the village.

The new local history group was borne out of the village’s WWI research and will study various aspects of the area’s heritage including architecture, past residents, Raby and St Mary’s Church.

Members, including chairman and secretary Jim and Jan Pearson, felt Mr Robertshaw’s visit was the perfect launch event which was also enjoyed by members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guard, Durham at War and Bowes Museum.