A VILLAGE history group has published a book to help locals commemorate the First World War.

Members of Howden-Le-Wear History Society put pen to paper a year ago, and now the finished article is being hand delivered to all households in Howden-Le-Wear and Fir Tree, free of charge.

The 193-page paperback, Remembering Our Fallen, tells about the lives, deaths and families of the men from the area who fought in the First World War.

History society secretary, Chris Gibson, said he was very pleased with how professional the book looked.

“We have all learned so much from researching the book and it’s brought the names on the cenotaph back to life again.” He said.

“I’m very pleased with how professional it looks, we all are. Everybody in Howden-Le-Wear, Fir Tree and all of the surrounding areas and farms has been given a free copy.”

More than 1,500 books have been hand delivered with the help of the local scouts group, who volunteered their time to help.

Anne Yuill, also a member of the history society, added: “We have made a very good team, and this was very much a team effort, everybody has done their own research.

“We’ve completed the project start to finish in a year and we are all really pleased with how it has turned out.”

The society is also celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. Founding member Joan Potts said: “I set it up in 1995 when I was a teacher at Howden-Le-Wear Primary School.

“I didn’t think it would still be going today but I’m so pleased it is. We have published books before but this one is definitely the biggest.

“It’s wonderful that we’ve been able to give all the homes in the area a free copy, it’s a way for them to commemorate the First World War too.”

The project was made possible by the Heritage Lottery Fund, who covered all costs including printing.

Mr Gibson added: “We are so grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generous grant they provided us with. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without their support.”

The Howden-Le-Wear History Society meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7pm in the History Room in the village hall and new members are welcome.

Additional copies of the book are available to buy direct from the society, costing £5.