FANS of one of the biggest annual events in Keighley district have been reminded that Haworth's 2017 1940s Weekend will take place in a little over three weeks.

It will commemorate the heroic "Cockleshell Heroes" raid of 1942, when a small group of Royal Marines attacked shipping in the German-occupied French port of Bordeaux in southwest France.

Only two of the 10 men who were launched from a submarine in canoes to attach mines to ships survived the raid – known formally as Operation Frankton.

Of the other eight marines, six were executed by the Germans while two died from hypothermia.

The popular 1940s weekend, which runs from May 19 to May 21, attracts thousands of visitors and locals. It will feature an array of people dressed in military and civilian clothing from the decade, with the main attractions again focusing on Haworth Central Park and Main Street.

There will be live music, food, souvenir stalls and a display of vintage vehicles.

There will be a 1940s vintage cocktail and Prosecco Bar located within the tennis courts next to the park.

Goose Eye Brewery has been commissioned to produce a real ale for the weekend's chosen beneficiary charity, which will be on sale at the bar.

On the Sunday (May 21) at 10.45am, Haworth churches will unite at Haworth Parish Church, in Main Street, for an Act of Remembrance service led by the Bishop Of Bradford.

A spokesman for the weekend's organisers said Ben Parkinson, the most seriously wounded British soldier to survive the Afghanistan War, will take part in the service.

She added: "It is a great honour that Lance bombardier Ben Parkinson MBE having been invited to attend this service as a guest, will recite the Ode of Remembrance.

"Due to his immense injuries and in particular severe brain injury, Ben struggles with memory loss so this is no easy task for him.

"His sheer determination and 'can do' attitude to pay tribute and to show his respect to the fallen has given him the passion and motivation to attend weekly speech therapy lessons since November of last year.

"This service will be open to the public."

The weekend will raise money for the Pilgrim Bandits charity, which helps severely injured service personnel regain confidence and rebuild their lives.

Lance bombardier Parkinson, who is ambassador and patron for Pilgrim Bandits, will launch the weekend with a VIP Night and "Money-can't-buy" auction on May 18.

He sustained over 40 horrendous injuries when the vehicle he was travelling in hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan's Helmand province in 2006.

He was expected to die and was told he would never walk or talk again. But he is now able to both speak and – with the help of prosthetic limbs – walk.