KEIGHLEY’S military history group is planning a major exhibition to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

The Men of Worth Project hope to spread their display about the devastating First World War battle to more than 50 sites in the town.

The centrepiece will be a display at Keighley Library highlighting the stories of local men who fought and died on the blood-stained battlefield in 1916.

Shop windows around the town will showcase stories of individual soldiers with photographs and eyewitness testimony.

The Somme display in the upstairs Local Studies section of Keighley Library will open on July 2, replacing the Men of Worth’s current display about the Jutland naval battle of May 1916.

Men of Worth volunteers will also highlight local men who fought in either of the battles during their display at Keighley Armed Forces Day on June 19.

Men of Worth found Andy Wade said: “Our Jutland exhibit has details of six local men whom we can be sure served in that battle.

"The Battle of the Somme exhibit will detail a great many more men who fought in this important battle of the Great War which lasted from July 1 to November 18.

“On Saturday, July 2 in the morning there will be a talk about our local men who fought, and in many cases, died in the battle.

“In the afternoon we will be showing the 1916 film The Battle Of The Somme loaned by the Imperial War Museum.

“The film is partly 'staged' scenes from men in training and partly propaganda, but does include actual footage from the trenches. It has the distinction of being the most viewed film ever, with over 20 million people seeing it at cinemas in the first year of its release.”

There will be around for further showings in Keighley before the end of the centenary commemoration in November.

Another Men of Worth member, Ian Walkden, has attracted interest from around 50 shops willing to display A4 sheets, each bearing a photograph and information about a Somme soldier.

Mr Wade added: “Steve Seymour at the Airedale Centre has said he will take about 20 to put in empty shop windows.

“We also hope to have a display in the main cabinet in the Airedale Centre, to support and explain our efforts in local shop windows.”