YOUNG newshounds at a Stroud school were unleashed on one of the biggest stories of the 20th century.

Class Five at Cashes Green Primary School were taken on a trip to Steam, the Museum of the Great Western Railway, in Swindon to learn about the Second World War, and particularly how it affected children.

The youngsters dressed as evacuees and were told was it was like to have to scuttle into cramped shelters at the first sound of air-raid sirens.

On their return, they were asked to write an account of their visit in the style of a newspaper report.

Their work was judged by John Wilson, editor of the Stroud News and Journal, who also spoke to the children about the role of local newspapers.

The winning report was written by Rosie Snell, aged 9, and here it is:

We travel back in time to 1939 with key stage 2 to find out what it was like being an evacuee of World War Two at the Swindon Steam Museum

On Monday the 9th of October 2017 the children leant lots and even experienced hearing a real air raid siren.

They said the air raid shelter was very cramped and the soap they smelt was very stinky!

In the picture, Rosie Snell, a of pupil of Cashes, stands in her evacuee costume.

Every child dressed something like this.

Here's what Maja, of year five, has to say about it: "My favourite part was when we went under the steam train.

"I learnt that the tender of the train is its engine."

As their school topic is World War Two, this was a wonderful experience for learning about the time.