THE men and women of north Lancashire who died during the two world wars are being remembered in a unique project that aims to create pen pictures of all those named on war memorials in the area.

Members of the Lancaster Military Heritage Group are preparing books of honour for each parish in the district in a bid to produce a lasting record of around 2,500 people named on 25 local war memorials.

One of the first books to be finished gives details of the 66 men and women commemorated on Carnforth's war memorial.

Brigadier James Dennis, secretary of the heritage group, said basic biographical details such as the person's rank, when they were killed and where their graves were had been obtained from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

But he said the real aim was to "turn a name into a life" by finding out as much information as possible about each person.

Brigadier Dennis, who lives in Bolton-le-Sands, said newspaper archives and regimental museum and war diaries had been checked as part of the research, although the most emotive details had come from relatives, with more than 120 people responding to an appeal for information.

One person who came forward to contribute to the project was Keith Jenkinson, whose father Tom, who was from Carnforth, died aged 39 in Singapore in 1942.

Mr Jenkinson has written an essay charting the wartime experiences of his father, from when he was called up in 1939 to his family finding out on New Year's Eve 1945 that he had died around February 14, three years earlier.

On Wednesday, Mr Jenkinson came to Carnforth to hand over the town's book of honour to its oldest resident 94-year-old Nancy Melling.

The project is the heritage group's way of marking the Queen's Golden Jubilee year, and has been funded by a National Lottery grant.

Brigadier Dennis, who started work on it about a year ago, said although many of the stories were highly emotional, it was an extremely rewarding project.

He said information was still coming in, and that he hoped once the books were handed over to the communities, people would read through them and add to them.

Similar books of honour are being prepared for Nether Kellet, Over Kellet, Bolton-le-Sands, Warton, Silverdale, the Yealands, Borwick, Whittington and Hornby.

Anyone who has information on anyone named on those memorials, including photographs, personal tales and anecdotes, details of where the men and women went to school, or military memorabilia including certificates or medals, can call Brigadier Dennis on 01524-822514, or e-mail BFN1@menace29.freeserve.co.uk