THE Imperial War Museum North is staging an exhibition that explores another side of war torn Afghanistan.

WithDraw features the drawings of journalist and illustrator George Butler and depicts ordinary people trying to live normal life in often testing and dangerous circumstances.

The 29-year-old spent three weeks in the country last year and had to initially battle to win the trust of the people he was depicting - before being impressed by the warmth of their hospitality.

He said: "That's a very common theme in Afghanistan. They approach with a bit of caution and as soon as you're friendly or they can see what you're doing they're offering cups of tea and asking you to come and see their house.

"The war still goes on in the south and there were explosions nearly every day I was there. But from day to day the most common experience is people going about their jobs and I drew girls doing their exams and I drew kids selling pigeons on the streets in Kabul."

George said he was nervous during his time in the country because of the number of attacks that had taken place on Westerners and Western targets, like guest houses. But he never felt in direct danger, he added.

He met many inspiring subjects and these included the boy selling pigeons in the aptly named Bird Street in Kabul. He said this "very narrow street" was full of people selling birds from wooden cages.

But it was seeing girls being educated that was his most inspiring experience.

George said: "The project that inspired me the most is this one in the countryside run by a British charity called Afghan Connection. They're basically schooling tens of thousands of girls and boys. I walked into this girls school and they're doing their exams outside because the classrooms aren't big enough to fit a whole year in. It was just wonderful to see."

* WithDraw is at the Imperial War Museum North, Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park, until September 6. Anyone interested in finding out more should visit iwm.org.uk/north.