ARMED troops will be invading Otley this summer... but there's no need to panic!

Otley Pub Club has arranged for hundreds of Roundhead Association (RA) members to visit the town in July to recreate a Civil War battle.

The event takes place at Wharfemeadows Park on July 2 and 3, and will feature muskets, pikes and cannons.

A Living History display – designed to give spectators an insight into what life was like in the 17th century – will run alongside it.

The idea was sparked by a visit from The Hairy Bikers – aka Si King and Dave Myers – to Otley last year.

The hirsute pair were filmed at The Black Bull, where they went to find out more about the story of Cromwell's troops drinking the pub dry on the eve of the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.

Pub Club secretary, Bob Brook, said: "We promoted the programme – shown on BBC 2 earlier this month – by inviting members of the RA, in uniform, to the Black Bull for a photoshoot.

"They agreed it would be a terrific event for the town if we could follow that up with a re-enactment event on the anniversary of the eve of Marston Moor itself, which this year falls on a weekend.

"Prince Henry’s Grammar School has kindly agreed to rent its upper sports field to us as a campsite for the RA, and we have hired Wharfemeadows Park from Leeds City Council for the event itself.

"The battle will take place at the far end of the park and will include pikemen, muskets and cannons

"In RA terms, this will not be a ‘major’ battle re-enactment – there will be no cavalry and only a couple of cannons – but even as a 'skirmish' it will still involve about 150 to 200 people, all in authentic costume."

The visiting Roundheads will also be seen around Otley itself during the weekend, with a few members in full costume due to visit on the Saturday and a pre-battle troop parade planned for the Sunday.

The Living History exhibition will also take place in the park and will feature a variety of stalls and activities, including a working forge, cooking and carpentry.

The Pub Club is shouldering the expense of the re-enactment, which will be free to attend, so is hoping local businesses will lend a hand.

Mr Brook added: "We have begun to make contact with potential sponsors and grant organisations but, as we are a completely voluntary organisation that is free to join, we still need to attract much more sponsorship just to break even."

E-mail to secretary@otleypubclub.co.uk for more details.