A BATTLE on the beach in Morecambe is now just four weeks away - but organisers need more help.

World War II re-enactors are all ready to stage a D-Day style battle scenario in the resort on Saturday, September 11.

The men from Kompanie 1, based in the South Midlands, have promised to put on a spectacular show for an expected audience of thousands on the waterfront near Morecambe lifeboat station.

It will be the centrepiece of the annual Poulton Heritage Festival - this year titled The Big One' - which will see three days of hectic activity right across the town centre.

Hundreds of World War II veterans have been invited to join the 1940s themed weekend which aims to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944.

There will be military parades, a display of more than 100 wartime vehicles, a 1940s clothes show, Morecambe at war exhibition and much more as homes and shops join in by dressing up' behind sandbags and 1940s camouflage for the weekend.

People from right across Europe have already booked their places, says festival committee chairman Steve Saunders - in fact there is hardly a hotel bedroom vacant right along the Morecambe seafront.

But more help is needed to put the finishing touches to the event, he says.

The festival needs - Children and adult volunteers to be dressed up as 1940s characters, including evacuees.

More WWII veterans to go along to be treated as VIP guests with free lunch and a show on Saturday, September 11, and to take part in a veterans' parade.

Volunteer marshals to help with crowd control and advice.

Donations of old fashioned clothes, hats and shoes.

An electric tea urn to help provide refreshments for veterans during the weekend.

Drivers to help pick up veterans and transport them to the event.

To offer help in any way, call Steve Saunders on 01524-400512.

Or, to find out more about The Big One', log onto the event's website at www.poulton-online.com