CAMAFLOUGED among potted plants in their army gear, the Oxfordshire Home Guard brought history back to life.

The living history group marched round Wyevale Garden Centre in Bicester on Sunday, sharing their Second World War memorabilia with visitors.

Tanya Tipping was at the garden centre with her husband Terry, 45, and their sons Lucas, five and seven-year-old Joshua.

The Arncott resident said: "The boys were fascinated by it. They were asking all about the rations and looking at handguns."

The re-enactment 'soldiers' brought military gear with them including real guns - which had been safely deactivated - and two Army Jeeps, and paraded through the garden centre in Bicester Avenue.

Mrs Tipping, 38, added: "They let them try on the uniform and one of the girls explained how the gun worked."

Joshua, who goes to Bure Park Primary School in Bicester, said: "I liked the fact I could touch the actual machine gun. I learnt that the pigeons were used to send messages - I didn't know that."

His brother Lucas, who goes to the same school, added: "I liked the gun. My favourite part was having a lolly."

The boys' mum said they were also intrigued by the Army vehicles as their granddad has the same Jeep.

Oxfordshire Home Guard, which is based in Bicester, aims to preserve the memory of the soldiers who lost their lives when Great Britain was invaded during the Second World War.

About 13,500 men served in the county's Home Guard, including 1,670 men in Bicester, forming part of the country’s defence against enemy troops.