NATIONAL Lottery grants will today be awarded to projects explaining the importance of the Second World War to children.

The Big Lottery Fund's Their Past, Your Future scheme coincides with the 60th anniversary of the end of the conflict in Europe and aims to give young people the opportunity to learn from veterans about their experience of war.

Today, the fund will announce three awards, worth almost £30,000, for North-East projects.

A grant of £17,737 has been made to Durham County Council for activities that will introduce young people to the impact of the war.

Council spokeswoman Angela Stobbart said: "The award will help to give more than 2,500 young people from County Durham valuable experiences of wartime living, both on the battlefield and on the Home Front.

"Pupils will take part in detective sessions at the Durham Light Infantry Museum, including sessions on wartime food and evacuation.

"All the activities are designed to help young people understand life in wartime Britain and the importance of the war in ensuring freedom."

Darlington Borough Council has been awarded £5,315 to help children research the war with help from local veterans.

A project in Gateshead has been given £6,643 to allow primary school pupils to work with senior citizens and learn what it was like to live in the town during the war.

They will set up an exhibition and produce a CD to be sent to schools and libraries.