A MAJOR exhibition about the region’s soldiers serving in Afghanistan opens today.

The story of members of 3rd Battalion, The Rifles’ recent tour in the war zone is being told at the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum in Durham City.

The DLI was formed in 1758, but was amalgamated into the Light Infantry in 1968. Nearly four decades later, in 2007, the Light Infantry became the Rifles, with the 3rd Battalion particularly recruiting from the North-East.

Organisers hope the year-long exhibition about the regiment’s most recent campaign will bring people up-to-date.

Curator Michael Hughes interviewed soldiers, medics and engineers to get an accurate picture of what they have been through.

He said: “We were very keen to make sure that the exhibition is the voice of the soldiers.

“It links with the history of the Rifles and this is the first opportunity to bring their story up to the present day.

“They were patrolling in narrow streets with high walls, so it was a very risky environment to be based in for all manner of reasons, not least because of the placement of improvised explosive devices, which were the biggest cause of casualties to them out there.”

The exhibition features photographs and maps of the area where they served, information and experiences told in the soldiers’ own words, as well as artefacts such as equipment, bullets and shrapnel.

Information about combat gear, transport, the bazaar, medics, engineers and coming home is mounted on the walls.

Emma Hamlett, DLI manager, said: “We wanted to bring the story of the Durham soldiers right up-to-date, so there is a tangible link between the DLI and the 3 Rifles. They have done this tour very recently and we have chosen to focus on that tour to extend the narrative.”

Durham County Council received more than £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Army Museums Ogilby Trust and the Pilgrim Trust to create the display.

It will be accompanied by a 12- month programme of activities at the museum, in Aykley Heads.

Ms Hamlett said: “The exhibition is about the bravery of these soldiers, their mission and what they were trying to achieve.”

The museum is open daily between November and March, from 10am to 4pm.