ACCRINGTON Pals re-enactors set to take part in First World War memorial centenary commemorations in France may have to do so without their deactivated weapons because of EU counter-terrorism rules.

Scott Knowles, 53, coordinator of the Lancaster regiment of the Great War Society, said the group is lobbying MPs and MEPs for an exemptions to allow them to take their deactivated weapons to France and bring them home again without fear of confiscation or possible prosecution.

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The group is trying to take 50 Lee-Enfield rifles to a 100th anniversary memorial service at Mailly-Maillet.

Under British law, bolt action rifles can be used in re-enactments as long as the firing pin channels have been sealed with welding on the bolt face.

However, the EU demands the rifles must have had the magazines fixed in place or permanently blocked to be deemed legal.

But the society argues that by conforming to this they will no longer be able to demonstrate how the guns worked.

The group plans to travel to France to re-enact ‘going over the top’ at 7.20am on Friday, July 1, exactly 100 years after it happened.

Mr Knowles said the problem of getting the guns over to mainland Europe is proof houses, which deactivate weapons, do not recognise the European method of deactivation.

He said: “It’s a real shame at the moment because we want to take our rifles over there but currently we cannot dot that.

“The ‘weapons’ are about as dangerous as a cricket bat – you cannot fire anything from them – but we can’t get them altered to EU standards because the ‘proofers’ will not alter the weapons in that way.

“We want to go to Mailly-Maillet and take part in an authentic reenactment.

“We have the right uniform, the boots, the hats, the accessories, the guns just help bring the authenticity, which is what we are all about.

“If we took the guns out there we might not be able to bring them back and we could get fined or worse.

“It’s sad because it’s important to recognise these brave soldiers who fought for our freedom and they need to be remembered on this special day.”

Borough councillor Marlene Haworth, who represents St Oswalds, said: “I hope they can find a a way of getting the guns through to France.

“The restrictions have caused some difficulty but I hope it gets resolved.”