A CENTURY on, an East Lancashire borough is set to re-dedicate a memorial to those who made the supreme sacrifice in the First World War.

Clitheroe Castle and the grounds was first acquired by the-then Clitheroe Borough Council, under public subscription, for £9,500 in November 1920 from Lord Montagu of Beaulieu.

The intention was to create a memorial to the 260 soldiers from the town who died in the Great War and a memorial was later unveiled in the grounds in August 1923.

Now Ribble Valley Council, with Clitheroe Town Council and Clitheroe Civic Society is commemorating the centenary of the event with a re-dedication of the site tomorrow.

A spokesman for the event said: "(Tomorrow) will mark exactly 100 years from the date that Clitheroe Castle, the war memorial and the entire area was formally handed over to the Clitheroe Borough Council in perpetuity and in memory of those gallant sons of the town who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War One.

"To mark the centenary and give due recognition to those who had the foresight and imagination to obtain such a a treasured asset for the town in memory of the fallen, and to thank those who gave so generously to enable the purchase, a re-dedication will take place.

"A brief reconstruction of the handover keys and title deeds undertaken by civic leaders will be followed by a repeat of the words used a century ago by the civic leaders of the day.

"The event will then continue at the war memorial with an explanation regarding the circumstances of the purchase and the design and construction of both the statue and the Scottish Granite plinth upon which he stands.

"There will be a reading of poems from the time and the laying of a wreath of white lilies to faithfully repeat what was done on the day of hte dedication."

The castle was first built by Robert de Lacy in the early 12th century and soon saw action when marauding Scots swept across Northern England and a battle was fought at nearby Edisford.

The castle's museum was opened by the Duke of Gloucester in 2009 following a £3.2m refurbishment funded by Ribble Valley Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and public and private sector partners.

The re-dedication ceremony will begin at the castle's gates from 10.45am.