Artefacts from the Victorian era and World War Two are being used to help teenagers learn French.

Yvonne Kennedy, a teacher at Queens’ School in Bushey, visited Watford Museum where she hired some of its handling collection, which includes toys, domestic items and a war evacuee’s suitcase.

The items were used to help GCSE pupils master their use of the imperfect tense in lessons.

Ms Kennedy, from the Aldenham Road school, said: “I used the objects to introduce the imperfect tense in French.

“It's a past tense and one of its uses is to describe how things used to be so being able to talk about what the artefacts were and what they were used for was ideal.

“Some of the items raised a few smiles - especially when we compared the curling tongs with the hair-straighteners of today.”

Watford Museum, in Lower High Street, loans its handling collections and resource boxes free of charge to local schools and community groups.

The content of the box varies but all include items such as original or replica artefacts, posters, photographs, costumes and newspapers.

Sarah Priestley, heritage officer for Watford Borough Council, said: “It's quite an innovative use of the boxes which are usually borrowed by infant and primary schools, and what's really nice is that Yvonne is taking the time to create information for other teachers to use in the area.”

For more information, telephone Watford Museum on 01923 232297, visit www.watfordmuseum.org.uk or email info@watfordmuseum.org.uk.