Irene McNulty in the Thirsk air raid shelter

TEACHERS from across North Yorkshire have donned tin hats and gas masks as they get a sneak preview of the latest attraction at a popular Yorkshire Dales museum.

They will be going underground to take part in 'Put that Light Out' in a newly created air raid shelter at The World of James Herriot.

The cellars of the old veterinary surgery in Thirsk have been transformed into a wartime bunker crammed full of genuine artefacts from the 40s, amassed following an appeal to the public - gas masks, stirrup pumps, utility blankets, ration books, leaflets and whistles have all been donated by local people.

From April schools will be invited to bring along pupils for the educational workshop 'Put that Light Out' which will teach them just what it was like during the war years when the sirens went off and the family decamped to the small, dark and crowded air raid shelters often beneath their living room.

Conversion of the Kirkgate cellars has been possible thanks to a £7,500 grant from Museums, Libraries and Archives Yorkshire as part of its Museums Archives Alive project. And it is helping to pay for support from a trainee teacher from Ripon and York St John College who is looking at workbooks and the website.

This is an exciting new addition to the centre - and to our educational
programme

Irene McNulty - Herriot Centre

"The cellar has everything you would have needed during an air raid from essential fire fighting equipment and personal protection to a few home comforts to help pass the time," said Herriot Centre Audience Development Officer, Irene McNulty.

"Everyone coming along to the workshops will be able to have a cup of tea and try some vinegar cake, spam and carrot cookies. They will enter to the sounds of the warning sirens and bombs; listen to the news bulletins to see what is going on outside and leave to the all clear!

"This is an exciting new addition to the centre - and to our educational programme - which we hope our first set of visiting teachers will love."