THE horrors of the First World War have been brought to life for youngsters trying to understand more about 20th Century history.

Boys from Bow School, in Durham, travelled to Richmond, to get some hands-on experience of a soldier's life in the trenches.

In the regimental museum of the Green Howards they were able to immerse themselves in the reality of war.

As well as watching archive film of the Green Howards on the Western Front, students were able to handle documents of the period and equipment such as helmets, de-activated weapons and footwear that both British and German soldiers used.

Among the objects were a trench periscope, which enabled soldiers to watch the enemy without exposing themselves to sniper fire, a telescope and binoculars.

Bow School's director of studies, Trevor Davies, said: "We study both the literature and the history of the First World War with our 12-year-old boys and it's important for them to understand how the war was fought by ordinary men in the horror of the trenches.

"The museum has an excellent collection and gave the boys a good feel for the period."