THE lives of soldiers from Durham Light Infantry was faithfully recreated over the weekend.

Members of Monty's Men, a group of Second World War historians from around the UK, patrolled the grounds of the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery.

The group has portrayed the 9th Battalion the DLI at D-Day commemorations in Normandy, but does not normally do public displays.

Their visit to the DLI was a thank-you to veterans and Durham County Council museum staff for their help in achieving the highest level of authenticity in Second World War living history.

Each man wears the correct uniform, carries the correct weapons and 60lb of equipment and ammunition.

Visitors saw them digging trenches, eating rations, drinking tea and patrolling the grounds.

Fifty members of the group re-created the route taken by 9DLI through Normandy in 1944 after studying original war diaries. They marched from Gold Beach in full kit and slept overnight in slit trenches until they reached the village of Lingvres on June 14, 2004 - exactly 60 years to the day that 9DLI entered the village.

The village was taken in daylight by a territorial battalion from Gateshead and the Sherman tanks of the Royal Dragoon Guards.

The action, against crack SS panzer troops, cost 32 DLI lives and 248 wounded.

Keith Bartlett, of Durham, whose grandfather fought with the DLI, said: "Everyone in the group is acutely aware of the responsibility we have in portraying the men of 9DLI and in representing the British soldier."