School to build WW1 trench

A REPLICA of a First World War trench will be recreated at Tideway School in Newhaven.

Following in the footsteps of the BBC's Trench programme, where men lived under the same conditions as soldiers in the war, the dugout will be built by staff and students during the school's Activity Week in July.

Assistant headteacher Jim Fanning explained: 'The trench will be approximately 32ft in length and will be based on original wartime documents that parents have loaned to the school. More than 50 pupils will be involved in the planning and construction.'

But before they start work students have launched an appeal for spades and sandbags and would be grateful to hear from anyone who can help.

Mr Fanning added: 'The school has an excellent reputation for First World War research and the annual school visit to the battlefields of France and Belgium is always oversubscribed. The idea to build a trench came from pupils who had visited the original trench system at Sanctuary Wood in Belgium.'

Readers who can help in anyway can call the school on 01273 517601, or logon to www.tidewayschool.org for further information.