THE trench warfare of the First World War has been re-created by a Darwen Scouts group - but you’ll need your glasses if you want a good look.

The Highfield Scouts and Cubs groups spent more than a fortnight on the replica trenches, complete with British and German troops, barbed wire and tanks.

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And the impressive handiwork of the youngsters can be seen by the public as it is on display in the foyer at Darwen Library in Knott Street.

Scouts leader Val Baron said the troop had decided to go all out to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of war in a way that would engage with the youngsters and help them learn.

She said: “Last year, Simon Huggill did our Remembrance service and it was absolutely brilliant and he came again to do it this year.

“He asked if we could do some sort of model and we said we would. One of our leaders, Brian Walsh, did the layout. He was the architect. And then the children did all the rest.

“We talked to the children about the war and told them it was not about missiles being fired from miles away. This was hand-to-hand combat in a huge muddy bog.

“And it helped that the children were able to visualise it and see what we were talking about, rather than just telling them about it.”

Mrs Baron, whose husband Jack is also a Scout leader, said the youngsters had enjoyed learning about the war.

She said: “Last year, the Royal British Legion came and gave us a talk about it and the children enjoyed it and they were all asking questions.

“And they all enjoyed putting the stuff together for this project as well.

“We had to do it four at a time because it was so small so they were all doing relays under the watchful eyes of the leaders.

“It took about a fortnight or three weeks to complete. It was really enjoyable to do and it was lovely watching it build up.”

Mrs Baron said it was important for the youngsters to learn about the war and to understand the sacrifice of the soldiers who went to fight.

She said: “They learned a lot. It is important the children know about the First World War as they grow up.”