THE clock is being turned back to the darkest days of the last war at Castle Drogo this month, when the National Trust property stages a world war two weekend.

Visitors to the castle can participate in a 1940 Home Front experience trail around the house and grounds, which will include evacuation, the blitz, preparing for a night of bombing, rationing and aircraft identification.

During the war, Castle Drogo was used as a location for one of the Waifs and Strays Societies homes, run by a matron-in-charge and Mary Drewe, daughter of the India tea baron Julius Drewe, for whom the castle was created.

Staff and volunteers at the castle will play the parts of Basil Drewe, on leave from the RAF inspecting the Waifs and Strays Society children, in the company of Mary Drewe, matron and other household servants, all in period costume. The castle?s shop staff will be dressed as Land Army girls and visitors will be greeted by air raid wardens as they arrive.

There will also be live music from the 40s provided by local band Scott What It Takes.

Mark Agnew, property manager, said: ?We hope to bring a hidden part of Drogo?s history to life, so our visitors will be transported to the harsh reality of the Home Front experience in rural Devon. Visitors will see another side of this dramatic property, have their memories of and interest in the period stimulated and also have a lot of fun putting themselves through our evacuee trail.?

The world war two weekend takes place on September 18 and 19 between 10.30am and 5pm ? normal admission fees apply.