A VILLAGE church is to remember local men who fought in the First World War at a special event tomorrow (Friday June 27) evening.

The 'Remembering World War One' evening at Holy Trinity Church in Acaster Malbis from 7.30pm tomorrow will include dramatised readings of the reminiscences of soldiers like Harry Patch, Cecil Withers and Albert Smiler.

The church will host a display of war memorabilia - including medals, letters from the war office notifying families of the death of loved ones, a shell case and bayonet - and an extraordinary collection of 44 silk postcards made in France for soldiers at the front to send home, some with personal messages on the back.

There will also be readings of war poetry by Wilfred Owen, Siegried Sassoon and others, plus talks about life on the home front - including food and dietary advice from the time. "We will have for people to taste some parkin cooked according to a very economical wartime recipe," said Richard Connell-Smith, one of the organisers.

There will also be a powerpoint presentation showing some of the highlights of the York Museums Trust's WW1 York Walking Trail - including the trial of conscientious objectors at the Guildhall and the 1916 Zeppelin raids on Peaseholme Green.

Mr Connell-Smith said while the event was being held at the church, it was not a religious service. "It is... a varied programme intended to capture the spirit of the times and some of the events of the way, both at the front and here in York," he said.