NEIGHBOURING villages will come together this weekend to witness the rededication of a war memorial following its restoration.

A soldier statue was reinstated on the First World War memorial at Tursdale, County Durham, last month following a huge community effort to replace a figure which once stood on the plinth.

The original was taken away in the 1970s to be repaired, after being damaged the previous decade, but was never seen again.

The centenary of the First World War brought it back into the minds of residents and Cornforth Parish Council, whose boundary it now lies within, led a fundraising effort to replace the soldier.

Artist Ray Lonsdale, who made 1101 ‘Tommy’ at Seaham, created Not Much To Ask, a 6ft steel statue of a soldier longing for the fighting to end so he can go home to County Durham.

On Saturday, the parish council will host a rededication service.

Deputy Lieutenant of County Durham Major Chris Lawton will officially unveil the monument at 11am.

And Rev Gary Norman, of Cornforth’s Holy Trinity Parish Church, will lead a service of rededication and prayers.

A stretch of Thinford Road, in front of the memorial, will be closed to traffic from 10.30am to 12noon to allow the ceremony to go ahead safely.

The council has teamed up with Cornforth Partnership to run a free shuttle bus service from West Cornforth Community Centre to the memorial, from 10.15am until needed, and again for the return journey.

The weekend’s service will mark the anniversary of the war memorial's first unveiling in 1922.

Parish clerk Ray Sunman said: “This war memorial and the statue on it was the work of the communities of the area who subscribed to it originally to honour its men and boys lost at war.

"Its restoration and the new soldier were also, very much a local effort supported by residents and with funds coming from the parish council, Durham County Council, Tarmac and individual donations.

"Saturday's service, on the anniversary of the first dedication, is very much for the public and a chance to remember those we lost and see the memorial looking its best."