THE history of the Second World War comes alive for local children when The Shelter comes to the Lawrence Batley Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 10 and 11.

Award-winning en masse theatre from Great Harwood in Lancashire are presenting the show, which had a sell-out run at last year's Edinburgh Festival.

It's a wartime tale of humour, terror and music set against the background of ARP Warden Angela Trumpet's shelter in London which she runs with her sons Tom and Malcolm.

The story is well set in potentially dark and creepy locations like the LBT Cellar. The sound of the air raid siren in the foyer will get audiences into the mood and the audience, who will be treated as fellow members of the air raid shelter, are smoothly ushered into the shelter by an ARP warden.

All is going well until the arrival of the snooty Colonel, his wife Hilary and two mysterious musicians. The Colonel and Hilary want something and will stop at nothing to get it, even if it places the whole shelter in jeopardy.

The story has been written and composed by Oliver Birch and is directed by Amy Leach.

Performances run at 1.30pm on the Tuesday and 10.30am and 1.30pm on the Wednesday. Tickets are £6 for children and adults alike, but there is a schools deal of £5 per child and one supervisor booked free for every 10 booked places. The Shelter is rated suitable for nine year olds and over.