DIDCOT Railway Centre took a journey back in time by inviting 225 school pupils to take part in a D-Day commemoration.

Dressed in Second World War evacuation clothing, the pupils carried gas mask boxes and were accompanied along the platforms at the centre by staff from the Great Western Society’s education team.

Among the year three pupils at the centre yesterday were Bethany Wright and Adam Baker, from Ladygrove Primary School.

Bethany said: “I went in the air raid shelter and they turned off all the lights and then we heard the air raid siren.”

The Great Western Society runs the steam railway centre next to Didcot Parkway railway station.

Spokesman Adrian Brodie said: “The air raid shelter is an original feature.

“We thought it would be a good idea to have an event like this on D-Day and it went very well.”

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