YOUNG volunteers got hooked on history as they explored Dorset’s past.

Members of Dorset Youth Association teamed up with BBC presenters John Craven and Jules Hudson to research the history of the group for an upcoming exhibition at Dorset County Museum.

They featured in the BBC 2 television programme Heritage Heroes as part of the Dorset Young Remembers project, sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The crew teamed up with youths in Dorchester in September last year when they filmed Alistair Chisholm, the town crier, as he took them on a trail of historical hotspots across the county town.

Project worker Lorna Johnson, said: “Mr Chisholm told them ghoulish history stories and they showed him a GPS treasure hunting tool to help get young people hooked on history.

“Later in the day, volunteers and trustees were joined by staff from Dorset County Museum and they researched the archive of photos of Dorset Youth Association and the youth clubs it has supported over the past 70 years.

“The clubs we’ve visited are so different. Some focus on hobbies and crafts, others on racing go-karts at top speed, but everyone we have spoken to has told us youth club is all about fun and friendships and is a safe place for young people to relax and let rip.

“We are tracing the decades through favourite bands and fashions and tuck shop chews.”

The programme was broadcast on BBC 2 on Tuesday, February 21.

Dave Thompson, director of Dorset Youth Association, said: “It was great to meet the BBC team.

“They were very interested in how the young people are working to preserve this unique history of youth participation in Dorset.”

The exhibition From Tents to Twitter from Hiking to Hotpants at Dorset County Museum this summer aims to demonstrate the value of the network of rural voluntary youth clubs. Project manager Tony Armstrong said: “We have recruited an amazing 20-strong team of young volunteers but if you want to get involved in the project and learn some heritage skills we still need volunteers to help in transcribing interviews, editing film and audio stories, and assisting with historical research and press and social media work.”

For more details call 07788 203003 or visit dorsetyoungremembers.blogspot.com