Sing-along with George Formby, sit in a Spitfire and learn to dance the Lindy Hop as part of Brighouse’s first 1940s weekend.

The whole town will be travelling back in time this weekend, transforming its centre and shops to a bygone era. Visitors will also be able to ride on a vintage bus, get a glimpse of Churchill and Eisenhower look-a-likes, go to see a variety concert and dance at the Ritz.

Organisers are hoping everyone will join in the fun and come dressed in ’40s style.

One of the organisers, Steven Lord, said “We’re wanting to portray the Home Front during Britain’s finest hour. We are celebrating the good things of that period, the community spirit, make do and mend and entertainment for young and old alike. It will be a cracking family day out.”

The build-up to the weekend starts tomorrow with a cinema evening at the Civic Hall showing the Oscar winning Humphrey Bogart film Casablanca.

On Friday, the Civic Hall will host Boo Booby Doo’s Burlesque Cabaret Show, while across town the Ritz Ballroom will be putting on a dance night. On Saturday and Sunday, attractions will include vintage military and civilian vehicle displays, a Cine News Reel show, performances from 1940s singers and dance lessons with the Back Step Boogie Club.

Visitors will have the chance to enjoy re-enactment displays from the Land Army, RAF, Luftwaffe, Dambusters and French Resistance and sample WI cooking, and there will also be a vintage market and fairground rides.

On Saturday evening there will be a 1940s-style Variety Show at the Civic Hall, a 1940s dance at the Ritz Ballroom and the choice of a Summer Sounds concert with Brighouse and Rastrick Band at Central Methodist Church.

But for many the highlight of the weekend will be a fly-past by a Spitfire from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on Sunday.

Other events that day will include a local history talk by Chris Helme at the Salvation Army and a remembrance service for those who lost their lives during the war.

The weekend will end with communal singing and dancing in the streets.

The event is the work of volunteers from the Brighouse Business Initiative who are hoping it will become a regular fixture in the diary.

Lesley Adams, of Simply Flowers, said: “We are all very excited about the 1940s weekend, which is the first of its kind to be held in Brighouse. The response has been overwhelming and we are anticipating record numbers of visitors to the town. We have organised a park and ride service which will collect people from the train station and a car parking area near the motorway using a vintage bus.”

For more information, or to buy tickets for the performances, go to brighouse1940sweekend.co.uk.