The 60th anniversary of the capture of a Nazi Enigma coding machine which helped defeat the German Navy will be held on Sunday in the town which helped pay for one of the British warships involved.

During Navy Week in 1941, people in Horsforth raised £241,000 to help build HMS Aubrietia.

The ship, together with HMS Bulldog and HMS Broadway, attacked and disabled the German U-boat U110 in the North Atlantic in May 1941.

A working enigma coding machine was recovered enabling the Allied code-breakers to decipher German transmissions and help defeat the German Navy in the Atlantic.

A team of code-breakers working at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire then deciphered the Enigma code. This breakthrough meant that Allied convoy and naval ships were better protected as it could be worked out where the U-boats were lying in wait to attack. Thousands of sailors lives were saved because of the recovery of the machine.

Mick Grubb, secretary of the HMS Aubrietia Committee, said: "We hope this event will honour the gallant crews of these ships and acknowledge the tremendous achievement of the people of Horsforth.

"We also hope that the event will highlight to our younger generation the sacrifices that were made by their forefathers to guarantee their freedom.

"All Horsforth residents will be very welcome, particularly those of the older generation who can recall the events of the Second World War.

"We are also hoping people living in Bradford, Halifax and as far away as the US will attend the commemoration."

Among those attending the event are Sir Barry Sheen, the First Lieutenant aboard HMS Aubrietia when the U110 was disabled, Donal Rigg who was officer of the watch aboard the ship on that day.

The celebrations will commence with a parade in Town Street at 1pm. Three hundred people, including war veterans, members of the British Legion, cadets and members of youth organisations are expected to take part. It will be followed by a service and the unveiling of a commemorative stone and plaque.