THE Accrington Pals are coming to the rescue of their own memorial - nearly 86 years after the Battle of the Somme in which so many lost their lives.

The creators of a radio programme, Nick Caffrey and Les Bond, have further immortalised the war heroes on a new CD, to be released on February 24, and sales could help raise £8,000 towards repairing the damp and rot-ravaged Pals Memorial Chapel in St John's Church, Accrington.

The CD tells the story of the brave young men from across Lancashire who enlisted into Lord Kitchener's army in the 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. Many died on the first day of the Somme on July 1, 1916.

Despite their title, battalion members came from a 250 square mile area of the county, with recruits from Earby, the West Riding, Croston, Ribble Valley and Rossendale, as well as from Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Blackburn, Chorley, Haslingden, Darwen, Horwich, Great Harwood and many local villages and hamlets.

Nick Caffrey said: "Their terrible death on July 1 1916 threw most of Lancashire into mourning and the effects of that tragedy still echo around the county. The interest in the story of the Pals is increasing as the years pass, so Les Bond and myself broadcast a programme on local radio last July to commemorate the 85th anniversary of that awful day.

"The response was incredible, with requests for copies still being received six months later. We thought it prudent to transfer it on to CD."

The story uses various techniques, including narrative, songs, poems, music, letters from the front, news items and vivid descriptions of the battle to give a gripping insight into what happened on the day, described as "the worst disaster in British Military history".

And now the CD is set to help raise funds for the Pals' own Memorial Chapel in St John's Church.

Les Bond added: "There are terrible problems with damp and rot within the building and if the repairs aren't done, this lovely memorial to those brave young men will cease to exist.

"Blackburn-based Universal Manufacturing and Logistics Ltd has kindly agreed to produce 1,000 copies of the CD for us and if we can sell every one, it will mean £8,000 towards the rescue of the chapel."

The CD, which uses the colours of the East Lancashire Regiment - black, yellow and red - on its cover, will be available from February 25 at Hyndburn Tourist Information Centre in Accrington Town Hall, priced £7.99. For more details, ring 01254 872595.