The experiences of the millions of First World War soldiers are to be brought to life for schoolchildren.

Pupils from across the borough will visit library archives and examine artefacts held by Havering Museum as part of a project focusing on the conflict.

At the heart of the Havering Council and Cityread London scheme is a letter exchange project, which will see students write to children in a partner London school about themselves and what they have learned.

In turn, the other children will write back with their own experiences.

The scheme was launched at Hornchurch Library on Wednesday with a workshop attended by Year 6 pupils from Towers Junior School and Langtons Infant School.

All of the participants will be encouraged to consider the challenges faced by soldiers in the First World War, the conditions in which they wrote their letters, how they would be delivered and also the issue of censorship.

A second workshop will take place later this year.

Cllr Andrew Curtin, cabinet member for culture, towns and communities, said: “This really is a wonderful learning opportunity for children in the borough, not just to learn about the First World War but to share that with other children in London through letters.”

The borough’s libraries are also hosting a variety of war-themed Cityread talks by authors and historians.

Contact your local library for details.