AS a site for a new First World War commemorative memorial in Cross Hills has been identified, a plaque with 57 names of men who died in World War I is to be unveiled at Glusburn FallFest on Sunday, September 21.

Plans are taking shape for the fourth annual Glusburn FallFest, a three-day event which starts on Friday, September 19.

Sue Ingham, Glusburn FallFest organiser, says the festival has doubled its numbers since its inception in 2011.

"We had just under 1,000 visitors in our first year and we had more than 2,000 people last year," said Sue.

The festival always has a variety of entertainment, but the Sunday of this year's event will feature a First World War theme.

A plaque containing 57 names of soldiers from Glusburn and Cross Hills killed in World War I will be unveiled at noon.

"The plaque will feature the names of those who died in World War I, but space will be left on it for the names of those who died in World War II, modern wars and any future wars."

A talk and question and session titled based on Karen Burnham's book - The Courage of Cowards, the Untold Story of the Great War's Conscientious Objectors - will take place on the day.

Sue said: "We want to focus on what happen to the local lads and the families that were left behind."

Scott Knowles will give a presentation called The Tommy Teaches, which Sue said is designed to introduce young people to the reality of life in the trenches.

Great War memorabilia, artefacts and case studies will be on display and the day will also feature a screening of the film War Horse and performance by Skipton-based choir Rock Up and Sing.

"Clearly this is an exhibition for all ages, but it'll be particularly good for young people," said Sue.

Meanwhile, a site for a new memorial with the plaque has been identified.

Cllr Patrick Hargreaves, a Glusburn and Cross Hills parish councillor who is leading on the memorial project, said: "The land we favour is on a plot owned by Craven District Council opposite Beech Street and Bella Napoli."

Glusburn ward councillor Phillip Barrett said the district council's policy committee recently agreed to gift the land to the parish council with conditions.

"I'm very pleased to support the gifting of this land to the parish council," said Cllr Barrett. "It's an ideal location in the centre of the village to commemorate the fallen of World War I."

Parish council chairman, Cllr Phillip Baker, is liaising with a stone mason to prepare the stone part of the memorial which would not likely be ready until November.

"It will be a very, very simple construction," said Cllr Hargreaves. "It'll have a stone base with a pinnacle and the plaque will be attached.

"We're calling it a commemorative memorial rather than a war memorial because we're commemorating the names after 100 years.

The project is expected to cost several thousand pounds, and although the parish council is seeking Heritage Lottery funding it has agreed to underwrite the scheme.

Cllr Hargreaves added: "We're finding there is strong consensus of people in the community who want it."