Eden Camp archivist Nick Hill with the Punch and Judy puppets made by German prisoners of war, which have been donated to the museum, near Malton, and which have been put on show for the new season.

VISITORS to a North Yorkshire museum will have a taste of old- fashioned seaside humour when they see the latest exhibits.

Eden Camp, which threw open its doors for the 2003 season today, has just been given a set of Punch and Judy puppets made by German prisoners of war.

Museum archivist Nick Hill explained: "We were just phoned up out of the blue by a man called Michael Leadbeater, who lives in Malton. He said that his mother, Luise Hansing, originally came from Hamburg, and she had married Michael's father in 1936.

"They moved to Leeds and during the war-time period, his mother entertained and looked after several German prisoners of war."

Mr Hill said that one of the prisoners had made a set of Punch and Judy puppets, including the devil, the crocodile, the skeleton, a man in a flat cap and a policeman, which had a costume made from a German army uniform.

They will be put on display in Hut 10, which is filled with memorabilia from prisoners of war who stayed at or were involved with Eden Camp.

"Mr Leadbeater just phoned us out of the blue and asked if we would like the puppets," added Mr Hill.

"They are in such nice condition, we are really pleased to have them. I think they would be almost unique."

Updated: 11:54 Monday, January 13, 2003