BANBURY’S role in the First World War will be commemorated in a new book and the author is looking for contributions.

Written by former journalist Julian Dancer, who worked for the Oxford Mail’s sister paper the Banbury Cake, the book will honour the people of the town who helped in the war effort.

Mr Dancer said: “I’ve already done some research, but I’m appealing for Banbury people to come forward with memories, photographs and so on.”

Kieron Mallon, leader of the town council, said: “There will be a chapter on Banbury men who went away to fight, and I’m asking anyone with any sort of information to get in touch.”

The book is due to be published in August thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Banbury Town Council has received £10,000 from the HLF’s First World War: Then and Now programme to educate residents about their town’s role in the Great War.

The book, Banbury – the history and the heritage of World War One, will be given free of charge to libraries and schools and to the first 1,000 people who request a copy.

Mr Mallon said: “Banbury played a massive role in the First World War but many people in the town today are unaware of what happened between 1914 and 1918.”