It will be Bradford by the Sea in Morecambe next week as dozens of Bradfordians head north after being lured to the resort by a tourism blitz - set up by schoolchildren.

Pupils at Skerton High School in Lancaster wanted to recreate childhood memories for Bradford folk who enjoyed the sun and sand of Morecambe in the 1940s.

So last October, as part of a GNVQ Leisure and Tourism Intermediate Award, youngsters from the school set up their own package tour and came to the city to promote it through the Telegraph & Argus and by distributing brochures.

Now their plans have proved such a success that 71 people will be travelling to Morecambe on Monday when they will step back in time to the 1940s to enjoy a week of nostalgia and magical memories.

Headmaster at Skerton High School Andrew Davidson said: "We're extremely pleased with the overall result of the project. To my knowledge, this is the first project of its kind in the country and all the pupils have put in a lot of hard work to make it a success."

Coach operator Judie Welsh, who teamed up with the pupils to arrange the tour, congratulated the pupils on their success.

She said: "We've never done anything like this before and we were really delighted to work with the hotel and the pupils and to give the school a chance."

The holiday-makers will stay at the Headway Hotel, East Promenade, where they will be issued with ration cards for meals and where nightly air raid sirens will sound when guests will take cover in the air raid shelter - otherwise known as the dining room.

Bradfordian Stella Butler, 70, and her husband Joseph will be one of the couples on the tour.

"I've got many happy memories of Morecambe from childhood holidays there," said Mrs Butler. "We're really looking forward to re-living those times."

Mary Peel, 73, of Allerton, a co-traveller, added: "We always liked Morecambe because it was quiet and lovely.

"We haven't been for ten years, but if we like it, we might even go again."

On Monday, the holidaymakers will be joined by Bradford's Lord Mayor, Coun Tony Miller, who also used to enjoy holidays to Morecambe as a child. "We're really looking forward to the trip," said Coun Miller.

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