PUPILS and staff stepped back in time experiencing life as wartime evacuees in Britain with a 1939 theme day at Christ Church School, Bradford on Avon, on December 16.

The day started with children arriving dressed in clothes of the time clutching home-made gas masks and boys and girls were registered in separate playgrounds.

There was a traditional Christmas lunch and tours of the town for pupils to look for somewhere to have their lessons.

The theme day marked the end of a term of work studying what life was like for evacuees and children from host families during the war.

Headteacher Neil Baker said: "Throughout the term the children have been totally absorbed by the whole topic. For one of their classes their homework was to make toys of the time from materials available back in that era within the structure of make do and mend.

"We had teddy bears made from socks, dolls made from stockings, cotton reel tanks and moving models.

"Children and staff worked really hard to make the day work.

"Without the support of parents dressing the children and providing artifacts the event would have been a non-starter. The enjoyment on the children's faces was something else."

Adults who came in to to help out also wore wartime clothes. Some dressed up as members of the armed forces and one person came as the mayor of London. A nurse also attended along with women from the town who would have helped out at the school at the time.

Children were rewarded for their efforts at the end of the day when they were each given a chocolate coin and a gingerbread man.