VILLAGERS from Areley Kings will commemorate the centenary of the World War One with a performance of a remembrance play.

Members of the community have come together to stage wartime play 'Lest We Forget,' which will be performed at St Bartholemew’s Church, Areley Kings, near Stourport, on November 8 and 9 at 7.30pm.

The specially commissioned play was written by villager Mary Arden-Davis, who played pub barmaid Pru in long-running radio drama series The Archers.

Thirty villagers are involved in the performance, with the youngest cast member aged nine and the oldest 90.

The play tells the story of a small community who raise money to build a memorial for 14 young men from the village killed in the conflict, and is based on records of the time.

Cast member Philip Greenway, who plays the part of the architect who designed the original war memorial in the play, has made a half size detailed replica, which will be constructed in the church during the first half of the play.

The second half of the play will recount the soldiers returning home.

Mrs Arden-Davis said: “I was delighted to be awarded a number of 'There but not There' silhouettes by the Armed Forces Community Fund Trust to support the event. These will be placed in the church pews, intermingled with the audience, with each silhouette representing one of the young men from the village who died.

“While I was doing my research, I realised that when the young men returned home there was nothing to help and support them other than their families.

"In their memory, all profits from our performances will be donated to the Battle Back Centre at Lilleshall to support present day service personnel recovering from mental and physical injuries sustained during combat.”

Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for children, and the price includes a souvenir programme and interval refreshments.

Tickets are available from cast members on either 01684 214037 or 01299 825791.