A Sandbach dad and his business partner are holding a star-studded remembrance event this weekend in a bid to get young people to honour fallen heroes.

Veterans Mike Chambers and Andrew Ralph have organised a Remembrance Festival at Sandbach Cricket Club on Saturday (November 12th) which will include bands and an assault course.

Veterans Andrew Ralph and Mike Chambers

And they have partnered with Daniel O'Reilly aka Dapper Laughs who is their ambassador for the event.

He said: "It's that time of the year again, that time of the year when I actually sit back and be thankful for our armed forces.

"I reflect on those that made the ultimate sacrifice, those that have returned from overseas and have never been the same person.

"Their entire life has been massively impacted so I can sleep at night knowing my children are safe and not in harm's way.

" With Mike and Andy's help, I want to think of a way to make sure those fallen men and women are never forgotten, and I want to make sure my children are forever grateful"

Daniel O'Reilly aka Dapper Laughs

Numerous businesses, some outside of the area, have donated prizes for the event which it is hoped will become an annual one.

A live singer and a band will appear at the all-day family-friendly free event which starts at 9 am in the morning and goes through until 11.30 pm.

And the event will feature an 11 km run around Sandbach which will be paused at 11 am for a Remembrance Service at the Hind Heath Road venue.

Mike, who lives in Elworth and has three children, served in the Cheshire Regiment and One Mercian for 10 years, doing two tours in Iraq, two in Afghanistan as well as Northern Ireland.

Andrew Ralph served in the Welsh Guards and the two, who now run a security business, met on a military mission.

They set up a Go Fund page to help finance Saturday's event https://www.gofundme.com/f/ymu7y-poppy-appeal but say their business is stepping up funds for the event.

Mike said: "The links and ties with the Cenotaph are declining so we need to show young people a different way and get the younger generation to connect with Remembrance Day. "

"Over the years, like so many others, we have paid our respects the traditional way, and we want to encourage that but we also want to do something different for our community," added Andrew.

"We have also noticed that the younger generation turning up to remembrance parades has declined."

The event will feature a bagpiper, the band Frantic Fridays and the singer Aimee Chesters plus other names. 

It will also feature face painting, a bouncy castle, a BBQ and a bar.