WHEN the Furness and District Year Book was compiled late in 1938 its usual mix of pictures showing carnival queens, fetes and mayors was joined by an unusual view of a Barrow gas mask store.

The brief caption says: "Fitting gas masks during the international crisis, September, 1938."

While the immediate crisis passed, over German expansion and militarism, it was one step on a gradual progression towards the start of the Second World War in September 1939.

Barrow had been busy building warships since 1937 - a big change from the liners which had kept the shipyard open during long years of world recession.

The year book noted: "The national re-armament programme which brought prosperity to the town in 1937 continued to exert its influence throughout 1938."

Gas masks had been produced in huge numbers from 1937 and the following year a national network of Air Raid Precautions was set up, including Barrow, Millom, Ulverston and Barrow.

Tests were held in the spring of 1939 to see how effective a blackout could be to stop light from houses, shops and offices being seen by potetntial enemy bombers.

The start of war on September 3 in 1939 brought many changes on the home front as rationing was introduced on everything from basic foods and sweets to fuel and furniture.

Some of the household utensils in use in Furness during those days are reflected in our pictures from last weekend's 1940s event at Lytham.

What couldn't be bought during the war had to be made in the shed or grown on land given over to allotments.

Many kept hens in the backyard.

The shortages were made much worse by the damage to hundreds of homes in Barrow created by air attacks, mostly in April and May, 1941.