Dinner guests at an Eid-Milan party are to raise thousands of pounds to help wounded British soldiers.

About 700 guests are expected to support the cause at the glitzy night on Saturday, February 27, at Bradford’s Hilton Hotel.

The fundraiser is being organised by the West Yorkshire Society of Pakistan.

For the past 11 years the society has celebrated the end of Ramadan with a party inviting guests not just from the Pakistani community but from other walks of life, faith and cultures across the region.

Society president Rashid Awan, who became Bradford’s first Asian police officer in 1966, is confident he can count on people’s generosity.

Over the past decade, the society has helped many charities both national and local including Marie Curie Cancer Care and Lord Mayor of Bradford appeals.

Mr Awan said the society, which has more than 400 families on its membership list and also gets together annually to celebrate Pakistan Independence Day on August 14, supported community-cohesion as one of its objectives.

He said it had been put in touch with the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association by an Army guest at last year’s Eid-Milan event. He said: “We are a non-political, non-religious organisation. When we heard about BLESMA we felt it would be good to help.

“It is a unique charity for victims of war. We are not politicising about this. We are just helping those who have been injured while fighting which was part of their duties. They were only doing their job. I’m sure people will be generous.”

Jet2, which last year ran its first dedicated service for Muslim pilgrims taking part in the annual Hajj to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, is sponsoring the dinner.

Guest speakers will include Keighley MP Ann Cryer, Consul General of Pakistan Tariq Iqbal Smooro, Bradford Council chief executive Tony Reeves and Jet2’s chief executive Philip Meeson.

Mr Awan said: “We will fill the Hilton venue to maximum capacity. We can’t find anywhere bigger in Bradford, it’s one of the district’s biggest gatherings of the year.”