YOUNG historians stepped back in time to tell the story of the Great War.

They gave a poignant performance of 'A Letter to the Trenches' to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War One.

The musical was one of the highlights of a World War One heritage project by pupils at Claypool Primary School in Horwich.

The school has received lottery funding of £7,700 to deepen their understanding of the Great War and create a lasting legacy of the project in the form of a WWI Garden of Contemplation Project.

In the lead up to the performance, the young actors received drama lessons and direction from Karen Ryder from Helen O’Grady Drama Academy to help them develop the skills to perform with confidence in front of their audience.

Parents, grandparents and members of the local community including residents and staff from St Catherine’s residential home enjoyed the performance.

Year 6 pupil Izabel Hordern said: "The drama lessons showed us how to ‘freeze frame’ and the performance brought our learning to life. The women had stayed at home before the war. They had to work in the factories and do the men’s work.

“My family came to watch and thought the performance was amazing. Everyone in class was interested and very involved.”

Amin Maljee, year six, said for the play he learned what life was like for a soldier in the trenches.

He said: “They marched and learnt to shoot. Then went to France and lived in the muddy trenches. When it was Christmas they got letters and presents from home.”

The children took the play to St Elizabeth’s Horwich Day Centre to perform the songs from the play and a couple of scenes for the elderly service users and staff.