PRIMARY school children are taking a step back in time as part of the council's Blighty club initiative.

Warrington Borough Council is inviting community groups to rebrand their regular sessions as a Blighty club leading up to November 11 by sharing music, memories and social activities of the time.

The 'take me back to dear old Blighty' initiative has received £100,000 of Heritage Lottery Funding and is part of a bigger Warrington-wide campaign to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

Oakwood Avenue Community Primary School in Padgate has a strong connection with the First World War as the school's foundation stone was laid on November 11, 1914.

The school also has journals from 1914 which have been shared with pupils, encouraging them to research their own connections to the First World War.

Franklin Crozier-Davies, 11, said: "My great, great uncle, John William Crozier, was born in Warrington but his mum and dad were from Scotland.

"When the war broke out he joined the Scottish Black Watch Regiment.

"He fought on the Western Front and he was killed in the Battle of the Somme.

"At first his name was at the Scottish Cenotaph but my great uncle told them about him in Warrington and now his name is here."

Ruby Taylor, 10, said: "I made my own folder of facts and poems about the war.

"It took a whole day and I didn't watch any TV because I wanted to do it – it's my favourite topic!"

Anna Mclaughlin, 11, said: "I learnt about my family.

"My two great, great uncles died and we have the binoculars that they took off a German officer.

"I am going to visit their graves in October half term.

Blighty Clubs were set up for soldiers who were injured during the war and were sent home.

Soldiers who had suffered a 'blightly' or wound, would go to the clubs to convalesce, relax and share their experiences.

In Warrington, it was set up in the Conservative Club on Sankey Street by Lady Greenall.

Warrington’s commemorations will include an exhibition at Warrington Museum entitled ‘Peace at Last’ which will begin on Saturday, November 10.

A live theatre event will take place in and around Old Market Square on Saturday, November 3, telling the stories of people from Warrington.