WINSTON Churchill gave a rousing speech before air raid sirens and explosions caused the electrics to falter and guests were nearly forced to run for shelter at the village hall in Bothenhampton.

Locals attending the Taste of the Forties evening found themselves momentarily in the Blitz before the Bothenhampton Helpers served up a wartime menu of pea and ham soup followed by sausage and mash, with blancmange and jelly for pudding.

The 40 guests then enjoyed a nice cup of Ovaltine before a good old-fashioned sing-song with forties songs.

Diners, many of whom were dressed in the style of the time, sat amidst all manner of Second World War memorabilia in what organiser Ernie Bird described as "a wonderful evening". The sale of tickets and a raffle raised £150.