SIXTY years after soldiers first marched into a prisoner of war camp, history buffs have retraced their footsteps.

Wartime re-enactment groups took up residence at Eden Camp, near Malton, North Yorkshire, at the weekend, and stayed in the barrack huts that were home to prisoners of war from 1942 to 1948.

The modern-day prisoners relived the past when they were marched through the parade square, drilled and were then issued with site duties.

Re-enactors took on the roles of captors and captives, with interrogations carried out and escape bids made.

Museum archivist Nick Hill said: "Our site is ideal for re-enacting groups.

"It gives the public a chance to see them close up and talk to them about what life would have been like as a POW."

The first group of Italian prisoners arrived at the camp in 1942 and helped to build the huts in which they were kept.

After Italy surrendered to the Allies in September 1943, the POWs were allowed more freedom and many went to live on farms, where they were employed in food production.