THE American Civil War will be brought to life at a Bromsgrove open air museum this weekend.

Avoncroft Museum, in Redditch Road, Stoke Heath, will be hosting a re-enactment by the American Civil War re-enactment society this weekend, September 20 to 21.

Around 40 members of the society will be setting up living history camps of the Union and Confederate armies, and visitors will be able to chat to soldiers and camp followers as they go about their daily lives.

Twice a day the society member will be recreating scenes from one of the most turbulent periods of US history.

There will be skirmishes with infantry and artillery, including two cannons, when the Union and Confederate armies meet to fight to resolve the issues that divided them - the preservation of the union or the continuation of the traditional southern way of life.

Younger visitors will also be able to join in by learning simple arms and marching drills with the Confederate army, or acting as a Union runner delivering messages to and from officers in the Federal camp.

For more details on the event visit the Avoncroft Museum website, avoncroft.org.uk/whats-on/events-programme.