YOUNGSTERS are travelling back in time this week to find out about life during the Second World War.

From Aycliffe to Italy: County Durham Goes to War, opened yesterday at the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Art Gallery in Durham City and will run for a week.

Members of Time Travellers Theatre Company are donning period costumes to make the experience as realistic as possible.

The half-day history and arts event includes a tour of the DLI and a worksheet for the children.

The youngsters meet two characters from the war - a woman worker at the ordnance factory at Aycliffe and a Durham Light Infantry soldier in Italy.

They examine the issues surrounding the war at home and abroad and complete the worksheet based on exhibits.

The event is organised by The Forge, a new arts education organisation funded by Durham County Council, Northern Arts and the Regional Arts programme.

It aims to develop arts education programmes for youngsters across the county.