A BRADFORD community is aiming to raise £100,000 to resurrect a long-forgotten project to build a memorial bandstand to honour its war heroes.

Members of the Wyke Village Society are seeking funds for the bandstand which would be constructed on the village green.

The group has applied for a £50,000 grant from the WREN FCC Community Action Fund to support the project, but is hoping to raise the other £50,000 from charitable donations.

In a leaflet and letter promoting the project to residents and businesses, Peter Walker, chairman of the society, says: "Shortly after the First World War ended, Wyke's community pulled together to raise money for a permanent memorial to their loved ones.

"However, not enough funds were raised, so a wooden memorial was installed in the Parish Church instead.

"At present, there is a memorial inside St Mary's Church and the other churches in Wyke have memorials for members of their own congregations.

"Since 2014, centennial landmarks to remember significant events that took place during the First World War keep coming thick and fast.

"This resurgence of national interest led to the Wyke Village Society being approached by local residents about the feasibility of erecting a war memorial in the village to honour the Wyke residents that gave their lives in both World Wars, and indeed conflicts since.

"Our society feels that plans should be resurrected to honour the fallen, and in partnership with Bradford Council, plans are now underway for a Memorial Bandstand, more visible to the public, to be erected on the village green.

"As a community project, we hope that local individuals and commercial organisations will play a part in assisting this to proceed by making a contribution towards our target."

At present, wreaths for Remembrance Services held in the village are laid on a memorial stone of the Low Moor and Wyke Royal British Legion.

Mr Walker said plans for the bandstand, which has been granted planning permission by the Council, were still in the early stages and fully dependent on raising the necessary investment.

"We have put in for the grant from WREN, and hope to hear in the next month or two," he said.

"It would be nice to have the bandstand up for the Armistice Service this November, but it is more likely to go into next year."

Councillor David Robinson (Ind, Wyke), who is also a member of the society, said: "The Great War, together with more recent conflicts, resulted in a great number of our local community's servicemen and women cruelly taken away from their families at an early age.

"Our village green has been granted Centenary Fields Status, and by building a bandstand the community will have a permanent memorial to remember the sacrifices made for them by local servicemen and women, and secure the green as a recreational space for the community.

"All donations will be saved for prosperity on a plaque alongside the bandstand for future generations to recognise those that contributed."

Donations to the project can be sent to Stan Burston at 10 Wyke Lane, Wyke, Bradford, BD12 9BX, with cheques made payable to 'Wyke History Group'.