PEOPLE from across the district – and further afield – took part in a First World War roadshow.

Visitors raided their lofts, cupboards and display cabinets so treasured artefacts from the conflict could be examined and recorded.

Experts were on hand at the event – at City Hall in Bradford – to provide more information about the items.

And details of each object were archived.

The roadshow was held as part of an ambitious project, Lest We Forget: Keep Their Stories Alive, to create a national digital archive.

The initiative is being staged jointly between the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the University of Oxford.

Max Dutton, assistant historian at the commission, said: “Archives provide a vital link with the past.

“Thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project allows us to preserve our WWI heritage.”

Among those at the event was the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Keighley councillor Zafar Ali.

“We were delighted to host the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as it carries out this important work,” he said.

“Bradford district has a proud tradition of honouring the men and women who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War and I know many of our residents had fascinating stories and artefacts to contribute to the archive.”

Scores of people turned-up at the roadshow, together clutching more than 300 items – from medals to kitchen goods.

Contributors included Liz Hall and her sister Kate, who as children played with a periscope used in the trenches by their late grandfather, William Whitfield.

“We used it to spy from the window sill in the living-room!” said Liz.

The periscope was one of several items she and Kate took to the roadshow. Others included a splatter mask, worn by soldiers in tanks to protect their eyes during combat; a camera in its original cloth carry case; trench art – items made from bullet cases and shell cases which Liz and Kate have in their homes as ornaments – a diary kept by William when he was in France in 1918-19; his de-mob papers and an engraved cigarette case.