A POPULAR series of public lectures on war-time themes begins its 20th anniversary season later this month.

Peter Hart, of the Imperial War Museum, will give the first talk, called Mesopotamia: The First Gulf War, at the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery, in Durham.

The series began, two decades ago, with a talk by the late John Giles, of the Western Front Association.

It has been followed by nearly 150 further presentations by military experts and war historians.

Mr Hart, originally from Stanhope, County Durham, is a regular visitor to the museum, at Aykley Heads, Durham, and is the co-author of several books on the First World War.

He gives his talk on Saturday September 18, at 2pm.

Tickets are available in advance by ringing 0191-384 2214