IT'S a woman's life in the English Civil War armies. Well, OK, it wasn't in real life, but it is now - just ask Soo Todd.

She's the Recruiting Officer for Sir Thomas Glemham's Regiment of Foote - part of the Sealed Knot - and also for the Northern Re-enactment Society which means daughter Natasha has to share her playroom with some of the regimental stores.

There's a Roundhead helmet on the book case, a couple of dummy muskets in the corner, a Napoleonic hat perches on top of the videos and rolled neatly behind an armchair - next to the Barbie house - is a full size tent.

There's also a drum, which is Natasha's. At six years old she is a proper regimental drummer.

"It's a family thing, something we can all do together, which is why we joined, "says Soo "Instead of us all spending our time doing our own thing, separately, we have a shared interest and a focus for our weekends away."

It's also definitely different. Last weekend the Todds and 1,500 others were storming Rockingham Castle. Well, it certainly beats painting the back bedroom.

The Sealed Knot is famous for its re-enactment of great Civil War battles. Every Bank Holiday, the Royalists and Parliamentarians are fighting it out all over again. Soo's brother Paul was involved and the Todds became enthusiastic too, enlisting in the Royalist regiment.

"But we were interested in other eras as well as the Civil War, " says Soo,, which led to the formation of Northern Re-enactment Society which is particularly fond of Napoleonic battles.

In real life, women were limited to being camp followers - which covered a multitude of occupations.

"We have one girl now who acts out the role of Tarty Tess," says Soo.

You can be a damsel in distress, if you like - captured by rampaging American Indians at the Battle of Quebec. But don't worry, the goodies will come and rescue you.

Many women don't join in the fighting but provide the 'Living History' demonstrations and displays that take place on the sidelines at re-enactments - spinning, weaving, making corn dollies, craft demonstrations.

"Everything has to be 100 per cent accurate," says Soo. "No carrier bags, trainers, cigarettes. Even shoes have to be like the proper thing - no right or left, you just wore them into the right shape."

But while some women are content to spin and weave, many are not. And nearly a third of the fighting force is now women.

"The only rule is that when they're on the battle field they have to dress like men," says Soo.

So women are coping with 16 foot pikes, and muskets which fire unpredictable gunpowder. And getting rapid promotion too. Eunice Robinson from Ferryhill is Sergeant of the Musket Block. Other women organise the baggage carts - going on the battlefield to collect the bodies and stripping the 'dead' for anything that might be valuable or just saleable.

But even that has its dangers. "When you look up and see forty horses galloping towards you..."

Soo and husband John, who live in Ferryhill, are Powdermasters.

"The black powder is highly flammable and unpredictable. Makes a really loud bang," grins Soo.

"We shout out "Have a Care!" to warn people, but dogs bark, car alarms go off, kids scream."

The battles are scripted - can't go changing the course of history - and there are practices in the winter months and in the mornings before an afternoon re-enactment. But in the heat of battle, sticking to the script isn't always easy.

"We have all sorts of people in our battles. That's part of the attraction." Until arthritis forced her to give up, Soo repaired domestic appliances, John is a gravedigger.

"But we get lawyers, barristers and an awful lot of policemen. If your job means you have to be very polite and restrained you can really let go in battle and get rid of all that pent-up aggression," she says.

There are inevitably occasional injuries. But there's a Medical Corps - historical costumes, modern doctors and first aiders - at every battle.

Kitting yourself out as a 17th century soldier doesn't come cheap. Not many men get a £200 musket for their birthday, which is what John got from Soo.

A Napoleonic uniform can cost around £200. The distinctive hats - shakos - are £150 and the plume for the top another £70.

But Soo made her own costume of shift, long skirt, waistcoat and cloak. And in the corners of the Todd playroom there's a fair selection of authentic looking trousers, shirts, muskets and splendid hats.

"People don't have to buy it all when they join. We can equip them for free until they see if it's something they're going to enjoy," says Soo.

The bonuses are the companionship and the family atmosphere. Suzanne Kohler of Harrogate was back on the campaign trail just ten days after baby Nadia was born.

And soon Nadia had her own realistic 17th century costume.

"There can be two or three thousand people at a camp site for a big weekend. And you know that the children are safe and happy."

And for the grown ups, there's usually a beer tent, which helps the job along.

"It's not all glamorous. Not on those rainy weekends and you're up to your eyes in clarts." Says Soo.

And there are other risks and dangers.

"At one battle the toilets exploded. Terrible smell, dreadful mess. But it only went all over the Parliamentarians, so that was alright," says Soo.

Sir Thomas Glemham would undoubtedly approve...

The Northern Re-enactment Society will be putting on a display as part of Spennymoor Gala on Saturday, July 5.

Sir Thomas Glemham's Regiment of Foote will be part of a Sealed Knot Civil War battle re-enacted at Raby Castle on Saturday, July 12 as part of Raby's Gala Day.

For more information on the Sealed Knot locally or the Northern Re-enactment Society, contact(01740) 652149 or sootodd@swanns.freeserve.co.uk