HUNDREDS of people have visited an exhibition to mark the 90th anniversary of the famous bombardment of a North-East town.

More than 1,000 people have turned up to the exhibition, which details the day Hartlepool was shelled by the Germans in the First World War.

More than 100 people were killed during the 40-minute bombardment on December 16, 1914.

Among them was Theo Jones, the first solider to die on British soil in the 1914 to 1918 war.

The exhibition opened at the Museum of Hartlepool, by the Historic Quay, on Saturday. It features replica uniforms of the soldiers at the Headland Heugh Battery, who defended the town during the bombardment.

An 8ft wide oil painting by James Clark, who went on to work for the Royal Family, will be added to the exhibition next week. The original sketch by Clark, done six days after the bombardment, is already on display.

"We knew we'd get a good reaction to this exhibition but the interest has exceeded all expectations," said a spokesman for the museum.

The Heugh Battery historical group will visit the museum on Sunday, October 17, and there will be two talks on the day.

There will also be a bombardment workshop on Tuesday and at the Central Library on Wednesday, from 4pm to 5pm.

Places for the workshops need to be booked on (01429) 523483.

The museum can be contacted on (01429) 860077.

Published: 09/10/2004