A FORMER paratrooper turned official war artist has helped inspire students to create their own works of art.

Derek Eland spoke to year eight students at Hummersknott Academy, in Darlington, about his work in Afghanistan.

The Cumbrian-based artist set up diary rooms in the most high risk and dangerous areas in the country and invited soldiers to write down their thoughts on the blank, uncensored postcards, which were then put on boards for other soldiers to read.

He was surprised to see that the soldiers wrote about the same topics as their predecessors did during the First World War 100 years ago.

Mr Eland, whose Diary Rooms exhibition is currently on show at Mima gallery of modern art, in Middlesbrough, said: “It was a great privilege to present my Diary Rooms work to the year eights at Hummersknott Academy.

“The students were extremely engaged with the work, asked a wide range of excellent questions and wrote responses on hundreds of their own postcards.

“The students very quickly connected with the Diary Rooms work and the stories. For many it was the first time they fully understood what it's like to be a soldier on the front line.”

Helen Mason, subject leader in art and design, said pupils will be developing work inspired by the Diary Rooms exhibition over the coming weeks.

“We have been very privileged to have Derek Eland present his work to our year eight cohort,” she added.

“Derek engaged the pupils extremely well with a very interesting insight into his project and allowed the pupils to reflect on different types of Art and to have a greater empathy for all the soldiers do for our country.”