An exhibition exploring what life during the Second World War was like for people living in Braintree opened on Saturday.

Braintree District Museum, based in Manor Street, Braintree, will be telling the story of life at home through the voices of local people in its new World War Two: The People’s Story exhibition.

Museum staff have been interviewing people from across Braintree and surrounding villages so visitors can hear the testimonies of evacuees to the area, Land Arm Girls and even the experiences of a German prisoner of war.

As John White, an evacuee from Edmonton, recalls on arriving in Rayne: “When we got to the poultry farm, Mrs Smith introduced us to Mr and Mrs Moss.

“I was frightened as they were complete strangers. Then we were shown around the farm and we saw animals we had never seen before like cows and chickens.

“I was terrified of the goats with their strange staring eyes, thinking they were unicorns because of their horns. I remember being afraid that I was going to be fed to them.”

The exhibition features how local life was affected by air raids, the arrival of American GIs at nearby airfields such as Wethersfield and Andrews Field, or learn about the work undertaken in local factories – Courtaulds, Crittalls and Warner & Sons.

The exhibition will last until September 12.

The museum will also host a Second World War event day on August 1.