THESE Eastleigh youngsters have been turning back the pages of their history books to Tudor times.

The Merry England period has played a big role in Nightingale Primary School's timetable and there was a stylish finish before the pupils broke up for half-term.

They dressed in the traditional costume, which was home made, for a Tudor Theme Day.

Teacher Lynne McKeown praised the mums for putting together such "amazingly" good and realistic costumes.

Chandler's Ford based falconer Phil Oldham brought along some birds of prey, including a hawk, called Fury, to demonstrate a popular sporting pursuit from Tudor times.

In those days a royal falconer was hero-worshipped and couls command the type of following a soccer ace like David Beckham gets today.

The Nightingale pupils were given a taste of what life was like in those days when they sat down to a banquet. Complete with roast beef, it was sort of hearty feast that Henry VIII would have loved.