A NUMBER of events are being staged across Blaenau Gwent during Living History Month.

Fully costumed en-actors will cover many periods of history during June.

Visitors can listen to tales from a Cistercian monk and a medieval wise woman, herbalist and surgeon, chat with a colliery worker and his wife, the iron master and his workers or eavesdrop on two chartists planning their march on Newport.

Free events will be held at heritage sites.

June 4 - 10am to 12.30pm at Abertillery Museum: horrifying tales from the medieval herbalist and surgeon.

June 4 - 1.30pm to 4pm at St Illtyds Church: listen to tales from a Cistercian monk and get advice from a medieval wise woman.

June 9 - 10am Bryn Oer Tramroad Walk and Talk begins at Tafarn Ty Uchaf, Trefil, and follows the 19th century tram road across the Brecon Beacons to Talybont. Transport back to Trefil in time for lunch.

June 11 - Bedwellty House and Park in Tredegar: find out what it was like to live through the war as the country marks the 60th anniversary of VE and VJ Days.

June 18 - 1pm to 4pm at Blaina Heritage Action Group Museum: meet an iron master and one of his workers.

June 18 - 1pm to 4pm at St Paul's Church, Cwmtillery: meet the colliery owner and his wife and find out how they contributed to the building of the church.

June 25 - 10am to 4pm, at Bryn Bach Park, Tredegar: get a flavour of Celtic times as fully costumed enactors take you back to a time when druids walked our countryside.

July 2 - 10am to 1pm at Brynmawr Local History Museum: two chartists discuss plans for the march on Newport to fight for voting rights for the workers.

July 2 - 2pm to 4pm at Sirhowy Ironworks: two iron workers will take you back to Georgian Wales detailing their daily life, and working conditions.

For further information, contact the tourism or heritage officers on 01495 355972.