THE clock will roll back eight decades next month to bring ‘Dad’s Army’ days back to life in West Somerset and attract thousands of visitors.

Many will dress in period and military costume as they visit the West Somerset Railway to enjoy the nostalgia of an annual 1940s weekend.

Eight stations along the line will put on special attractions and displays to again make the weekend of September 11 to 13 one of the highlights of the tourism season.

Crowcombe Station will be nostalgically decorated and entertainment will include the John Walker singers and displays of memorabilia and vintage cars.

Attractions in Stogumber will include popular vocalists Blitz Time Sally and Chrystal Bliss, a wartime shop, a ‘make do and mend’ tent, and an ‘unexploded bomb’.

Williton Station is planning displays on the local evacuation theme, the world of wartime children, air raid warnings, and classic vehicles.

Watchet will have live performances over the weekend, a ‘dig for victory’ display, a model railway. and an air raid siren demonstration.

There will also be markets, period displays, and entertainment from the era in the town.

Washford will turn the station waiting room into a 40s tea room with furniture and crockery of the era and 'tea ladies' dressed for the part.

There are also plans to construct a field gun and barriers around an ‘unexploded bomb’.

National Air Raid Precautions will be on display at Blue Anchor station as well as other Home Front displays and attractions, while Dunster will be covering the rural life aspect of the forties.

Minehead will feature musical performances over the weekend and will host its popular evening dance on the Saturday evening.

The station will also display the Poppy of Honour, an 8.5 feet tall memorial dedicated to all British and Commonwealth Service personnel who died or went missing in World War One.