NEARLY 45 members of the Wiltshire Home Guard Re-enactment Group took a trip back to wartime as they dressed up to watch the highly-anticipated Dad’s Army film at Trowbridge Odeon.

The group took the opportunity of the film’s opening to showcase what the Home Guard did in the war by installing a small exhibition space at the cinema in St Stephen's Place.

Chairman Brian Hinton, who organised the area dedicated to the Home Guard, said: “I decided to put this on when we found out that the film was coming out only a few months ago and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get the word out.

“The whole idea of putting up the event came really naturally to me and I am surprised by the number of people who came along to the screening.

“Around 42 members came in full costume, first of all for a meal at Frankie & Benny’s thanks to the voucher in the Wiltshire Times, and then at 8pm to the Odeon to watch the new film.

“We do regular meetings at events and most of the things we do we get invited to which gives people the chance to see us travelling and what we do. We try to be as authentic as we can with our costumes and props and we do it for people to enjoy.”

The film remake of the Second World War-inspired sitcom is based on the television series which ran from 1968-1977.

In the newly-revamped version, Catherine Zeta-Jones stars as a journalist who arrives in Walmington-on-Sea to report on Captain Mainwaring’s Home Guard to report on the platoon’s exploits.

The film is backed by an all-star British cast which includes Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson, Bill Paterson as Frazer, Daniel Mays as Walker and Blake Harrison as Private Pike.

Mr Hinton, who is an avid fan of the TV series, said he was rather excited to watch the film. He said: “I have got every episode of the programme on DVD when it came out and I loved the series when it was on the television.

“Unless you have seen the original production, you won’t equate the film to that series. Like most things, if you are going to try and replicate it in a film there will be criticisms but you have to take these things on face value.

“It was like that in the Home Guard especially when Dad’s Army first came out because people said it was nothing like the Home Guard, but for me it was.”

The group is also on the lookout for new members. For more information, email membership@wiltshirehomeguard.co.uk.