THE streets will stand still this Friday as tributes are paid to the fallen of The Battle of the Somme on its centenary.

Friday marks the 100th anniversary since the Battle of the Somme broke out during World War One.

An act of remembrance service will be held at the town centre war memorial at 10.45am with Mayor of Swindon Eric Shaw and Colonel James Arkell, The Lord Lieutenant's deputy of Wiltshire in attendance.

A coffee morning will also be held in the Royal British Legion’s Pop-in Information and Advice Centre, Regent Street from 10.30am to 1pm.

The Legion is looking for relatives of seven fallen Swindon soldiers who lost their lives on the first day of the battle - July 1, 1916.

Phil Nobbs, former flight engineer and vice chairman of the Swindon branch of the Royal British Legion, said people must honour the fallen heroes of the Somme.

“It is so important because these young men were the people that fought and died for our country," he said.

"Some of them were just teenagers and they went into battle without thinking about the consequences. That’s why we must honour them.

“We will be laying crosses to the fallen and we hope to track down the relatives of those that died in the battle. It will be a poignant tribute to show that we haven’t forgotten these brave heroes who gave their lives for their country.”

The seven Swindon soldiers are Private Jessie Haines,31, of 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment Private Albert Woodman, 20, of A Company, 1st/8th Battalion Royal Warwickshire, Private Arthur Reginald Bryant, 19, of 103rd Company Machine Gun Corps, Private Frederick Wasley of 2nd/8th battalion Royal Warwickshire, Private Harry Lovesey, 21, of 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire, Private W J tanner of No 1 Inf. Works Company, Wiltshire Regiment and Sergeant Benjamin Broadhurst, of 16th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers

The Battle of the Somme, fought in northern France, raged for five months and was one of the bloodiest of World War One. The British and French armies bravely fought the Germans but the Allies were unable to break through their lines. In total there were more than one million dead and wounded.

More than 100 soldiers from Swindon are commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves memorial at Thiepval which sits over the Somme battlefield in Northern France.

Commemoration services will be held across the Swindon area.

In Cricklade, a Somme 100 service will be held at Saxons Rest on Friday from 7.30pm to 8.15pm. It will feature a drumhead service with the British Legion, the Cricklade Band, Stratton ATC Corps of Drums and Oxford & Caledonian band pipe major.

In Royal Wootton Bassett, a seven foot cross of Remembrance designed by Dr Mike Pringle of Swindon Heritage has been created.

The cross, which is made of battlefield artefacts, represents multiple nations that fought in World War One and was built by Stainless Supplies in Royal Wootton Bassett.

St Augustine’s Church in Summers Street will hold a candlelit vigil on the eve of the centenary with music, poetry and readings. This will run from 7pm to 9pm with a two-minute silence.

If you are related to one of the seven Swindon soldiers email philnobbs@tiscali.co.uk