COMEDIAN Al Murray - aka The Pub Landlord - made a surprise visit to a new war exhibition in Carlisle.

Murray visited the Blood, Sweat and Tears - Afghanistan, The Untold Story exhibition at Cumbria's Museum for Military Life.

Nick Hazelwood, an assistant at the museum, said: "He visited because he was in a show in Ulverston on Saturday night.

"He is interested in military history and is a very good military historian himself.

"His favourite film is A Bridge Too Far.

"The 1st Battalion of the Border Regiment in World War II were in Arnhem and that's where they filmed A Bridge Too Far. The 1st Battalion were the last cohesive unit to be together to form and protect the other soldiers as they retreated from the battle across the River Rhine."

Mr Hazelwood said Murray's visit had been "low key".

He said: "Museum curator Stuart Eastwood and my colleague Matt Lund were present when he came. It's a good endorsement for the museum."

After his visit, Murray said on twitter: "Just been to @CMoML in Carlisle Castle.

"As well as the standards and drums of regiments past there is an extraordinary exhibit about Afghanistan that I can't recommend enough."

Earlier this year Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life in Carlisle Castle reached out to veterans of Afghanistan in a bid to add a more contemporary record to its already extensive archive to ensure Afghanistan is not forgotten.

A team of veterans have now come together to form a thought provoking exhibition.

The exhibition opened on May 20 and is not just about guns and bullets.

The museum wanted to record the ordinary person’s experience of Afghanistan.

How did they cope with the weather, the daily life and routine, kit, equipment, food, accommodation and of course the humour. A grant towards the funding for the exhibition has come from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust who support the Armed Forces Community.

The Museum and veterans have worked together to provide a backdrop film of oral recordings for the exhibition as well as contemporary archive.

Their recollections have been filmed, recorded or written down and this exhibition, based on mutual discussions is the culmination of their work and seen through their eyes.

One soldier said: “All water was bottled due to the heat and no fridges – we drank hot water for six months! It was one of the greatest experiences of my life – for good and bad reasons. I’m glad I did it, but I’d not enjoy doing it again!”

The exhibition features poignant thoughts from veterans including one called Rupert who wrote: “On most days we put ourselves in harm’s way as we patrolled the hostile streets and fields within our area of responsibility. It was lethal, hot, challenging, exhilarating and highly dangerous all in equal measure. Our mission as British Forces was to support the government of Afghanistan by defeating the Taliban. My personal mission was to bring 120 young men in my command home safely. I failed in both missions.”

Jules Wooding, learning and access officer at Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life said: “The British Army have had a long connection with Afghanistan having fought in four conflicts over the past 180 years with many lives lost.

"Blood, Sweat and Tears gives an insight into the lives of those that were recently there.

"From ammunition to ablutions, solar showers to spiders, camp cots to combat medics.

"It is important to understand how our armed forces lived and worked in a hostile climate, where conditions were harsh and the terrain unforgiving.”

The exhibition is open until September 4.