PUPILS at St Mary's Primary School took a step back in time to get a feel for life during the depression in England in the 1930s.

It was all part of a history project to teach children about life in the North East when many people lost their liveliehoods due to the collapse of the shipbuilding industry caused by a global economic slump.

Year 6 teacher Mary Mark said she wanted to teach the youngsters about the famous Jarrow Crusade when hundreds of protesters marched from the small town of Jarrow to London. She said: "They got dressed up in authentic costumes and we got them to act out three short plays, looking at the protest march from the perspective of a protester, a wealthy socialite and an ordinary family.

DRESSED to protest: youngsters at St Mary's relive the Thirties.