IT’S almost time to dust off your ration books and turn back the clocks for the return of the annual 1940s Wartime Weekend.

The extravaganza is organised by the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) with events taking place in Bury, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall from Saturday, May 28 to Monday, May 30.

Last year’s event was a record-breaking success, described by organisers as the “best ever”.

The line-up includes: re-enactors dressed in 1940s fashion, evening dances and themed shows, vintage fashion, military items and wartime inspired food stalls, allied camps with authentic military equipment, battle re-enactments, fire power at the Blitzkrieg, air raid bunkers, vintage and military vehicles, and afternoon tea dances and brass bands.

A spokesperson for the ELR said: “Last year was a tremendous success with record-breaking visitor numbers of more than 8,000, as well as being crowned the winner of the much coveted Best Tourism Event of the Year award at the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards, the only category to be decided by the public.

“The event is not just a great day out for the whole family but also offers a significant educational value in understanding history.”

Ramsbottom Heritage Society will be selling copies of the second in a series of newspapers called Ramsbottom War News, which tells the story of life during the Second World War from those who experienced it.

There will also be events at all the ELR stops and Bury Transport Museum, off Bolton Street, and The Fusilier Museum, in Moss Street. The popular Palaise Glide Dance will take place in Bury Town Hall.

There will be free parking at the ELR station in Bury, Heywood, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall.

For further information or to book: call 0161 764 7790 from 10am to 4pm.