A PROJECT unveiling the full life of war for those in the trenches and others left behind went on show in Fairfield.

The Iron Shed artists transformed the entrance to The Old School in Fairfield Street into a trench, complete with oil lamps and sand bags, to give visitors an authentic taste of the war fields as part of the project to commemorate the start of the First World War.

Morris Riley, who leads the group, said: "The Fairfield Project might not be the Tate Modern or the National Gallery, but it sure packs a punch when it comes to art. A jewel in the crown for one of Warrington’s little known artist’s second exhibition amazed more than three hundred visitors who flooded through the doors.

"Their aim is to throw down the gauntlet to the southern softies who monopolise all the limelight from their northern counterparts. The ‘Iron-shedders’ have doffed their cloth caps, let loose their pigeons and tightened their pinnies. Filled with integrity, their jubilance outshines the Blackpool Illuminations. Their work is their voice, their visual language. Their honesty and sincerity shines as a Van Gogh ‘Sunflower’. Their friendship embraces you like one of Manet’s ‘Barmaids’.

"Their work, traditional, contemporary and controversial with their battle cry "We are here, and you had better get used to it".”

Jean’s Flaherty, from The Old School, said: "The First World War Exhibition was supported by the Friends of St Elphin’s Park who provided a 1910s style tea room experience for visitors to the show, which was sponsored by the Community Development Foundation and Warrington Borough Council."

To find out more about the art group see their Facebook page Iron-shed Artists or drop in at the venue.