Youngsters from West Norfolk were treated to a taste of history when they visited Imperial War Museum Duxford, as part of their studies on World War II and the Cold War.

Pupils from West Lynn Primary and Clenchwarton Primary spent the day examining the location where the very first Spitfires took flight in the late 1930s.

Dan Ryan, assistant head at West Lynn, said: “They were lucky enough to have a tour guide on the day, who took them from hangar to hangar, explaining the history behind each display."

Pupils had the unique opportunity to step aboard Concorde and another plane.

Eastern Daily Press: Some 13 children from West Lynn and 23 from Clenchwarton participated in the day out Some 13 children from West Lynn and 23 from Clenchwarton participated in the day out (Image: Submitted)

Mr Ryan said: “We also entered the air and sea hangar and got a good insight into the artillery and machines used in those scenarios.

"The paratrooper display was a favourite for many – especially the cabinet full of weapons."

Other exhibits introduced the pupils to a variety of historical artefacts, such as a 9/11 display featuring debris from the Twin Towers, the Duxford Operations Room where wartime aircraft were once organised, and a Land Warfare display where children could observe tanks and artillery.

Mr Ryan said: “We were also lucky enough to see the American Air Museum that had many planes on display that you could get up close to including a B52 bomber and a Blackbird.

"There was also a very good display about the Cold War that linked directly to our current unit of study.

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils had the unique opportunity to step aboard Concorde Pupils had the unique opportunity to step aboard Concorde (Image: Submitted)

“Trips like this bring history alive for the children.

“It gets them out of the classroom, out of the textbooks, and into the field."

A total of 13 children from West Lynn and 23 from Clenchwarton, both members of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, participated in the day out, which is a regular fixture in the annual school calendar.