AN appeal has gone out for ideas and volunteers for Darwen’s annual ‘1940’s Day’.

Town Council Mayor Cllr Roy Davies wants people to get in touch for the eighth such annual celebration on August 12.

Last year’s clash with Darwen Gala has been avoided with that event scheduled for the following Saturday.

Sudell Liberal Democrat Cllr Davies has asked for ideas for the 1940s Day so he can feed them into the town council’s preparations for the Second World War-themed occasion.

He said: “Now is the time that we need people to come forward with ideas for 1940s Day as we start to prepare for the summer’s events.

“We will be starting work on them at the next town council meeting and were are keen to avoid any clashes.

“This year the 1940s Day and Gala will be on different weekends.

“Last year the weather was dreadful but we are trying to ensure sure they are the best ever.

“We are keen for volunteers to come forward for helping with 1940s Day and for people to give us some ideas to keep it fresh and exciting.

“Two years ago was a really great event and we want to make it even better.”

His appeal for ideas and volunteers has been echoed by Sunnyhurst Labour councillor Dave Smith.

He said: “Now is the time to start preparing for 1940s Day.

“Despite the weather and the clash with Darwen Gala, I thought last year was pretty good.

“I’m glad the two events have been kept apart this year.

“Two years ago in glorious weather, 1940s day was the best it’s ever been.

“I am hoping this year will be even better.

“We now need volunteers to come forward to help run the event and people to put forward ideas for the day itself.

“They can contact the organisers via the facebook page, Darwen Town Council to through me.”

Last year’s 1940s Day saw a tea dance, period costumes, wartime singalongs and re-enactions.

In 2015, a replica of the famous Second World War Spitfire fighter was the event’s centrepiece as two special models of the warplane were gifted to the town.

The 1980s replica Spitfire had come from Blackpool, while the detailed scale models came from Leyland.

Accompanying the 20/50th Air Training Squadron who had made the models was 84-year-old volunteer Frank Ellison, a child in Whitehall when Darwen was bombed by the Germans in 1940.