A SPECIAL service to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War is taking place in a village near Stow.

Members of the Stow branch of the Royal British Legion will lead the service at the Oddington war memorial on Sunday, August 10 at 11am.

It will be followed by refreshments in the village hall and opening of an exhibition at 11.30am to commemorate the 22 men on the war memorial.

The exhibition which includes many photos, two scrapbooks and war medals is open until 5pm on Sunday then from 6pm to 8pm on Monday, August 11 and Tuesday, August 12 and again on Thursday, August 14 and Friday, August 15.

There will also be a screening of the African Queen on the Tuesday at 7.30pm in the village hall as part of the exhibition.