SILK underwear made from a parachute, a dressing gown created from a blanket, and an inside-out jacket used by a teenage clubber are just some of the items on display at the district museum's latest exhibition.

The theme of the Make do and Mend show, at Epping Forest District Museum, in Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, is Second World War thrift, and all sort of original items from the 1940s are on show, as well as contemporary accounts of everyday life.

During the war and the years immediately afterwards, new clothing was hard to come by and people would recycle materials from many sources to create new items.

As well as showcasing older clothes including the standardised Government red polka-dot dress of the era, the exhibition also offers hints and tips on how to make do and mend in modern times.

An opening day event for the exhibition was attended by district council chairman Penny Smith and featured a performance by the Jiving Lindy Hoppers who re-create dances from the 1940s.

The exhibition runs until December 1, and admission is free. Call 01992 716 882 for more information and opening hours.