TWO rare relics from the Second World War home front have gone on show at a museum.

A 1940s enthusiast has loaned two gas mask handbags to the World of James Herriot centre, in Thirsk, for its exhibition Pockets to Pouches.

They were used because they looked like an ordinary handbag, but has a compartment at the bottom to take a gas mask.

However, the leather bags were particularly rare, because most leather had to be used for military purposes only.

The majority of women had to carry their masks around in the cardboard boxes in which they came - although many decorated the boxes to match their outfits.

Heather Amy, from Thirsk, has been a fan of the 1940s since she was a girl, listening to stories her grandparents told about the war years and the strong community spirit that existed at the time.

For the past seven years, she has been involved in activities to recreate that time, regularly wearing 1940s outfits at local events.

Her memorabilia includes the two handbags.

One is a simple leather bag that has a round base to carry the mask, while the other, made by a London company called Wald and Co, was called the Waldybag, and came complete with a gas mask.

Both bags will be on display at the exhibition, which charts the history of the handbag from its early days as small purses and pouches to the modern designer styles of today.

They will also be used in a talk to be given by Irene Rodgers, the audience development officer at the centre - and a keen bag collector.

Tickets for the talk, on January 19 from 4pm to 6pm, are £5 and include light refreshments.

To book a place, call (01845) 524234.