The Big Lottery funded the 'Their past your future II' project, which examined life in Berwick and its Polish twin town, Trzcianka, during the Second World War.

The project has involved a wide range of people and organisations in the Berwick area, including Berwick library and Berwick record office, Berwick Migrants Support Group, Tweedmouth and Berwick middle schools, the Glendale History Society, local historians and volunteers, local town and county councillors and war veterans.

One of the original inspirations for the project was a book called 'Voytek the Soldier Bear' by Garry Paulin, which gives a glimpse into Poland's history during the Second World War and a bear that was the mascot of the Polish Army and was brought to Berwickshire with soldiers in 1946.

At the launch of the exhibition last week, Garry gave a presentation and talk about the background to writing the book and the subsequent world-wide interest it has generated.

Keen Second World War historian and volunteer, Tony Brown, took a lead in recording the oral histories of four local people as part of the project.

He said: "The people who have generously shared the details of their experiences with us are helping to ensure that young people in our communities today, and in the future, have an understanding of the impact of the Second World War, and it significance for society today."

Coun Jim Smith, from Northumberland County Council, welcomed guests who had been involved in the project to the exhibition launch.

"This project has produced a fascinating insight into the experiences of the two different communities during the Second World War – and the unlikely links between the two," he said.

"I am very pleased that we are able to share this information with the community through our schools and the library service both here in Berwick and in Wooler next month, and would like to thank everyone who has been involved with the project."

The exhibition highlights the work that has been undertaken as part of the project, which was funded by the Big Lottery Fund and administered through the Museums, Archives and Libraries Partnership.

The exhibition will be at Berwick library in Walkergate until March 15, before going to Wooler library and Wooler Book Fair from March 17 to 27 .