More than 1,100 pupils from 27 schools have taken part in a free interactive exhibit put together by a Stevenage-based initiative to help them understand the real meaning of the Easter holiday.

Easter Journey, organised by Bridge Builders Christian Trust, was held at five churches in Stevenage, one in Knebworth and another in Hertford during Lent.

The programme sees children split into small groups and each given a detective notebook, in which they note down the evidence they receive from biblical characters at stations around the church and try to solve the mystery of Easter.

“It’s been going really well – lots of good questions and very deep answers,” said John Forster, one of the main organisers.

“It’s all organised to help tell the Easter story. Our aim is to help cover this part of the Herts agreed syllabus for RE.”

The detectives have been starting at the empty tomb – which, according to the gospels, was found empty three days after Jesus was laid to rest. They meet a centurion, the apostles John and Peter, Judas Iscariot, and Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.

Along the way they take part in a reconstruction of the Last Supper and witness Judas casting away his 30 pieces of silver.

At the end of the 1½-hour journey they return to the empty tomb, where they share the evidence they have gathered and meet Mary Magdalene, who gives them a last piece of the puzzle.

The churches hosting the journey included St Hugh and

St John’s in Chells, St Mary’s in Shephall, All Saints’ in Pin Green, St Peter’s in Broadwater, Holy Trinity in the Old Town, and St Martin’s in Knebworth.

Bridge Builders is a registered charity and the pupils attended free of charge. To help cover the costs see mydonate.bt.com/events/easterjourney2016.

For more information see bridgebuilderstrust.org.uk.