MEDICAL advances during the First World War will be recalled during a talk next week.

Museum curator Andy Robertshaw will be at the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery on Saturday, October 13, at 2pm to present the talk, called Mud, Blood and Bandages.

Mr Robertshaw, who has recently been appointed curator of the Royal Logistics Corps Museum, in Surrey, will take original and replica medical equipment to demonstrate techniques that not only saved soldiers' lives but led to a modern civilian medical service, such as wound irrigation and the use of the Thomas splint.

He said: "Millions of men and women died in World War One but few now realise that the death toll would have been far higher had it not been for the professionalism and dedication of the stretcher bearers who brought the wounded out of no man's land and the doctors and nurses who battled to save life and limb.

"As a result, nearly 80 per cent of the wounded recovered from multiple injuries and returned to action."

For the past 12 years, Mr Robertshaw, who has written three books on the subject, has co-ordinated a European group called No Man's Land which conducts archaeological projects on the Western Front.

Tickets for the talk are £4.35 for adults with a £3.25 concession, £2.45 for children and £2.15 for season ticket holders, available in advance from the museum on 0191-384-2214.