A TEENAGE prisoner-of-war and a local schoolboy play together in the street just yards from the camp where the young PoW is held captive.

It is a scene that reflects the warmth prisoners of Harperley PoW Camp, near Wolsingham, and Weardale families felt for each other during the Second World War.

Despite the circumstances that brought them together, the low-risk Italian and German men and locals formed a close bond.

Now, that affection has been captured in the form of two period models, which will greet visitors to the site, that opened as a tourist attraction on Monday.

Visitors can now see the first stage of owners James and Lisa McLeod's plans to restore the camp and create a wartime museum. Mrs McLeod's son, Michael Simpson, 19, modelled for the young prisoner and family friend Joseph Williamson, eight, of Hamsterley, took the part of a local boy.

Mrs McLeod said: "Hopefully the scene with the models reflects the warmth of the camp and that it was not cold as people might expect. People took the prisoners into their hearts and their time here was made as pleasant and homely as possible.

"Although the whole museum may not be open for a couple of years yet, there is still lots to do and twice daily tours of the huts, at 11am and 2pm."

A farm shop, 1940s tearoom and restaurant, garden centre and caravan park opened on Monday, from 9am to 5pm.

Over the weekend there will be a vintage tractor display on Friday, food and drink sampling on Saturday, a WWII military vehicle display on Sunday, and a family fun day on Monday.