A BONANZA of military music will be the theme of the popular annual Beating Retreat event at Fulwood Barracks, Watling Street Road, Preston, on Saturday, June 19.

A powerful and stirring selection of band music will be led by the professional musicians of the North West's own King's Division Normandy Band, based at nearby Weeton Barracks.

The band has newly returned from France where it led the nation's homage at the 60th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy.

A special part of this year's programme will be a selection of songs from the Second World War led by former Ashton-on-Ribble High School pupil Katy McClelland.

As Dame Vera Lynn's modern-day alter ego, Katy, 18, will be dressed in authentic uniform of a war-time member of the ATS while singing a string of old favourites.

Entry to the event is free with gates open from 5.30pm. People arriving from 6.30pm will be serenaded by bands of the North West Army Cadets who will also be handing out programmes and collecting donations for the Army Benevolent Fund.

Old comrades marching with their banners will mark the start of the main event at 7.30pm while a lone piper playing the lament from on high will follow a ceremony of sunset to bring the evening to a close at 9.10pm.

No parking is available inside the barracks or in nearby streets but visitors are requested to use the limited public parking facilities opposite Preston North End football ground, Sir Tom Finney Way, Deepdale.