PUPILS from schools in the North-East are being transported back to the 1940s to relive the experiences of wartime evacuees.

Children from Consett Junior School, in County Durham, dressed as children escaping the Blitz, were yesterday taken by bus to Darlington Railway Museum, in Darlington. There, they experienced the Time Trackers living history project, staged by Visitation Productions

Headteacher David Yates said: "We tried to recreate an authentic experience for children from year four and five, as part of the National Curriculum covering the 1900s.

"They relived what it was like to be evacuated from their schools and taken from their homes to the countryside.

"The pupils all made boxes for gas masks, had Union Jacks, luggage with labels and lunches packed in parcels of brown paper tied with string."

The children were met at the railway museum by actors playing the roles of characters from the 1940s.

Mr Yates said: "Our school has just won a healthy school award for encouraging children to eat healthily.

"They were able to see the comparison between their life now and what it was like under rationing."

Railway museum education officer John Beeley said the Time Trackers scheme, which started on Monday, will be running for a fortnight, with more than 750 pupils expected to attend.

In October, Time Trackers will recreate the Victorian period.

The project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Darlington Borough Council.

Published: 12/03/2004