School pupils experienced the grim realities of life on the home front at an event earlier this week.

The year five pupils from Hereward Primary School in Loughton made the visit to the Royal Gunpowder Mills on Tuesday (July 7).

Taking part in the Home Front Experience at the Waltham Abbey attraction, the children wore 1940s-style clothes as they learnt about rationing, evacuation, air-raids and the role of women during the Second World War.

They also took part in a bombing drill practice and helped unmask a German “spy”.

Deputy head teacher Renette Fourie said: “Living history days such as this are so important to help with the children's understanding of life in the past.

“They truly benefit from getting the chance to experience life as it was.”