Birmingham company Nymbol has built a mobile app and website for one of the country's biggest First World War digital heritage projects.

Centenary Connections uncovers objects and stories from archives across Greater Manchester relating to the Great War and unites 26 arts and heritage organisations in the region.

The app was devised and created by Jewellery Quarter-based Nymbol, which specialises in making digital archives available to audiences using various platforms such as web, smartphones, tablets and touch technology.

Nymbol previously worked on a mobile app for the Library of Birmingham called Dozens and Trails, which allows users to access the library's vast heritage archive.

Centenary Connections lets viewers uncover archive objects and stories which previously have not been available online and make themed trails or journeys around Manchester with the app for guidance.

The project was created by the Greater Manchester Centenary Partnership, a group of major arts and heritage organisations led by NWM North, part of Imperial War Museums.

Other partners include Manchester Art Gallery, Whitworth Art Gallery, National Football Museum, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Greater Manchester Archives and The Lowry.

Rebecca Bartlett, Nymbol's digital content specialist, worked with the Greater Manchester organisations to create Centenary Connections.

She said: "This project is incredibly ambitious. Each partner organisation allowed access to their archive, which has given us a unique opportunity to unpick stories and connections across the city. It means that we can see Manchester's role in the First World War in a new light.

"For example, both the Local Studies and Archives Oldham and Greater Manchester County Record Office had great pictures of the 'Tank Bank' which was literally a bank held within a tank, to persuade people to help the war effort financially. These can now be seen together online for the first time."

Centenary Connections has eight themed journeys, including 'Animals', 'Feeding the Frontline' and 'Life at Home', within which can be found many objects kept in museums, archives, libraries and galleries around Greater Manchester.

The free app, which is available for both iOS and Android users, can be the basis of a real life tour of Manchester - or a virtual tour from anywhere in the world. Users can also view of the content via the website www.centenaryconnections.org

Graham Boxer, IWM North Director, said: "Our lives today have all been shaped by the events of the First World War, often in more ways than we are aware of.

"Centenary Connections can help us all delve a little deeper into some of the incredible stories from the conflict.

"This is the culmination of a huge partnership between organisations across Greater Manchester - it is incredible to see the scale of the commemorations taking place this year."

The Birmingham Post has launched a free app for iPad and iPhone. Download it here.