THE good old days reign supreme at the home of Ian and Sandra Day. For years, they had yearned to turn the clock back to the 1940s.

So when their home was flooded three years ago and their belongings were damaged, they decided it was an ideal time for a trip down memory lane.

When the insurance assessor arrived, they left him in no doubt that they wanted replacement contents from the wartime era of 60 years ago.

And with additional furniture, fittings and gadgets bought from auctions and car boot sales, the couple, from Melmerby, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, now live in a time-warp of their own making.

When they use the telephone, it is a wood and Bakelite affair, their fridge is a mesh-fronted food safe, and the vacuum cleaner is a 1936 Electrolux in its original wooden box.

Their kitchen units have been replaced with open shelves behind curtains, they play 78rpm records on a gramophone, and washday means bringing out the mangle.

Mr Day, 51, a carer with mental health charity Mencap, said they were offered £3,000 to fit modern kitchen units, but said their love of the past had triumphed.

Sitting in front of a coal fire, Mrs Day said: "This is just the way we like to live. I don't like all the modern things."

The lure of the past has also led the couple to join a re-enactment group called the Frontline Association. The couple's interest centres on the Home Front section.

Some of their memorabilia is used for exhibitions, which often sparks penetrating questions from children about the war years.

Mr Day said: "Sometimes they ask questions we cannot answer. We want to give them proper information about the Second World War, and I think young people should know all about it."

The couple are now appealing for anyone with authentic war memories to contact them so their displays can be backed up with specialist knowledge.

They have also issued a plea for people who worked at the Royal Ordnance Factory near Melmerby or at Ripon prisoner of war camp to call them on (01765) 640643.