THE Forest Community Cinema will be showing classic film The Dam Busters on Friday.

Starring Michael Redgrave and Richard Todd, the film recreates the true story of Operation Chastise, when in 1943 the RAF’s 617 Squadron Lancaster bombers successfully breached the Mohne and Eder dams, in Germany’s Ruhr region, in a raid using a technologically remarkable bouncing bomb.

The 617 squadron was re-named “the Dam Busters” and these events were hailed as a triumph for British heroism, ingenuity and scientific know-how.

The movie was the most successful box office hit in the UK in 1955 and has remained a favourite with television-film viewers and DVD purchasers. The Dam Busters March, composed by Eric Coates, is instantly recognisable and remains a very popular accompaniment to flypasts in the UK. The cinema will be joined by a Women’s Institute Choir who will sing wartime favourites before the showing.

Tickets are available from the Forest Community Centre on 01420 488978 or by e-mailing [email protected]. Pre-booked tickets cost £10 for the film and food (vegetable stew and dumplings to reflect the luxuries of wartime Britain) or £5 for the film only. Film-only tickets on the night cost £6.

The bar opens and food will be served at 7pm. The film starts at 7.45pm.