DORSET County Council has promised to support communities looking to hold events to mark the centenary of the First World War.

Members of the council’s cabinet considered a report setting out plans to mark the 100-year anniversary of the Great War, which lasted from 1914 to 1919, in the county.

Council leader Spencer Flower said: “We are all aware that we are not celebrating, we are commemorating the history of this centenary and the conflicts we have been involved in.”

Cllr Flower stressed that the council’s main role would not be to organise events itself but to enable communities and groups to commemorate in their own way.

A dedicated page at www.dorsetforyou.com will be set up and it will also be able to signpost people to funding from bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Armed forces member champion Cllr David Walsh said that the military had been working hard for around two years to plan commemorative events.