THE completion of a six-year project to honour men from the Cross Roads area who served during the First World War was formally celebrated last weekend.

Members of The Men of Worth local military history project have put together a replica of the Cross Roads Primitive Methodist Sunday School Memorial, which was unveiled at the Memorial Hall, in Cross Roads Park.

Their painstaking efforts have enabled the replacement of the original, which went missing.

People who gathered at the Memorial Hall last Saturday, (Feb 11) officially unveiled the new version, which features both names and photographs of many local men.

Addressing those present, Tito Arana, who is chairman of the Friends of Cross Roads Park, said: "One of the things I like about our memorial other than that it is housed inside, is the fact it lists both men who fought in the First World War, and also those who served.

"This doesn't make it unique but it does make it rare.

"Thanks to the hard work of Ian Walkden and Andy Wade from 'Men of Worth', who after six years of dedicated hard work managed to put together this replica of the Cross Roads Primitive Methodist's Memorial.

"Their work was not carried out alone. It included help from the staff at Keighley Library, from Robert Riley of R & J joiners for building the frame, from M J Framing in Keighley for doing the hard work and finally to Sheila Butler for her wonderful calligraphy.

"To top all this magnificent work, they also decided on a home for where it should be displayed.

"May I say from the bottom of my heart that I thank them for bringing this wonderful replica back to the village that these lads chose to fight for, and helping ensure their faces will be remembered for many generations to come.

"As a village we are truly honoured, and I'd like everyone present to give these people a round of applause."

People attending the unveiling were offered refreshments provided by Richard Hargreaves, of Cross Roads Bowling Club.

Mr Walkden and Mr Wade accepted a cheque for £100 from the Friends of Cross Roads Park, to help them continue their research.

The work to reconstruct the memorial dates back to 2011, when the Men of Worth carried out a survey of all war memorials in the Keighley area which had been removed from churches and other buildings because of their closure.

Speaking after last weekend's unveiling, Mr Wade said: "Ian and I would like to thank the Friends of Cross Roads Park very much for their generous donation towards the Men of Worth project."