PEOPLE are being invited to get hands on experience at the archaeological dig at Raikeswood prisoner of war camp in Skipton.

An open day - the second at the site - will take place on Sunday, August 6, from 10am to 4pm, and will include a behind-the-scene look at the dig. Guided tours and archaeological sessions will be held on the hour.

The investigation, first launched last year, is spearheaded by Rob Freeman, overseer of Craven and the First World War project along with German speaking Anne Buckley of Leeds University who is helping translate a diary kept by the German prisoners of war and John Mitton, deputy head teacher at Upper Wharfedale School, Threshfield.

Anne has just returned from Freiberg in German where she has been probing the German archive to discover more information about the camp where German officers were incarcerated from early 1918 until late 1919.

She was able to examine two of the camp newspapers plus other documents produced by the prisoners. "It was thrilling to see it and so useful," she said.

Information about how the dig progressed throughout last year and on the progress of the diary's translation was given at an open day at Skipton Town Hall where the public could examine finds and scrutinise information boards.

More background about the dig is available from Rob on 01756 706225.