History came alive for pupils at an East Riding primary school.

Year Three pupils at Hornsea Community Primary School are learning about the Stuart period.

They have learned about the plague and the Great Fire Of London, which blighted the period between 1603 and 1714.

After studying the period for the past three weeks, the 76 pupils were treated to a Stuart event, in which they tried on clothes and ate the food of the day.

A canon was even fired on their school playing field.

Headteacher Maria Foxton said: "It was a great day and brought history alive. It reinforced the fun aspects of learning.

"It gave the children a real insight, some of whom will go and find books in the library about the Stuart period.

"The children have all been great, as they always are."

The Stuart period was an age of intense religious debate and radical politics, which led to a bloody civil war in the mid-17th century between the Crown and Parliament.

Pupil Macy Williamson, seven, said: "I liked the brown bread. The highlight was wearing the really long clothes.

"They were tied at the front and were quite comfortable.

"The most interesting part for me was the Civil War, because there were loads of canons and guns.

"I wouldn't have liked to live during that time though as it was bad and people used to die."

William Dixon, eight, said: "I really enjoyed the day, especially the food - the cheese, bread and pasty. It was all nice stuff - better than school dinners.

"The clothes were bright colours and all raggy with bits of torn clothing.

"It was quite a struggle wearing a helmet. I couldn't wear it all day."

Despite liking the food and to a lesser extent the clothes, William would not have wanted to live during the Stuart period.

He said: "The Great Fire Of London was one of the most interesting bits. It was such a disaster and would have been very scary.

"I'd rather live now than during that time."

The Great Fire Of London of 1666 destroyed thousands of homes.

Only six deaths were recorded.

The plague was thought to have claimed 100,000 lives in England by 1665.