LOOKING back to the week that was November 13 to November 19, fifteen years ago...

Memories of the Second World War were made available in the North-East for the first time in November 2008.

The Listen to the Soldier archive featured interviews with 200 veterans from the Durham Light Infantry (DLI).

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Previously, the interviews, the largest collection of recorded material relating to a British infantry regiment during the Second World War, were only held on audio tape at the Imperial War Museum.

But in 2008 they were digitalised, catalogued and could be accessed via computers at the Durham County Record Office.

Speaking at the project's launch, Steve Shannon, from the DLI Museum, said: "This makes all those memories accessible. It's a unique collection.

"In 300 years' time, when everybody's forgotten, these interviews are going to be the main resource for information on what it was like to fight in the war."

The electronic archive had been four years in the making.

George Iceton, 88, from Barnard Castle, contributed memories from the North African desert. Mr Iceton served with the 6th Battalion of the DLI in Europe, North Africa and Sicily.

Youngster Kyle Ord and his family were over the moon when he achieved his black belt in Tai Kwon Do, especially as he has suffered from severe arthritis since he was six.

The then-11-year-old, from Evenwood, County Durham, could sometimes hardly walk from the arthritis in his ankles and knees.

But when he was able to, Kyle trained once a week with his elder brother, Nathan, his father, Mark, and mother, Jane, at Baek Ho Tai Kwon Do group, in nearby Butterknowle.

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His dedication paid off when he was awarded the level of first poom - the first junior black belt.

"Some days Kyle can't even walk. He has a wheelchair and leg braces touse at night, " said Mrs Ord. "He does get frustrated at times because he can't do what other kids can do, but he has worked really hard with his Tai Kwon Do – he's a real Trojan.

He said: "It's hard for me and I get sometimes get really sad when I can't do the things I want to."