CHURCH bells will ring out across the county to mark the 100th anniversary of the Day Sussex Died.

On June 30, 1916, 366 men of the Royal Sussex Regiment were killed in a matter of hours on the Western Front in northern France.

Staged as a diversionary attack before the Somme offensive the following day, it was the most deadly battle the county has ever been involved. As such it has such become known as the Day Sussex Died.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the offensive - otherwise known as the Battle of Boar's Head - church bells will sound from 5pm on June 30.

They will follow a full peal - a three hour display - from the bells at Chichester Cathedral at 1pm.

Amanda Scales, from Brighton's Royal Pavilion and Museums, has been the driving force behind the commemorative event.

She said: "It was such a devastating loss of life. Almost everyone would have been affected in some way.

"In Brighton and Hove alone at least 61 made the ultimate sacrifice that day and it is important that we remember them."

Among the churches to have already confirmed their involvement include St Andrew's, Church Road, Hove and St Nicholas', Church Street, Chapel Royal, North Street, St Mary's, St James's Street and the Church of St Luke, Queen's Park Road, all Brighton.

The bells will ring at 5pm to coincide with the start of commemorative service in Richebourg, France, where the battle took place.

Representatives from Sussex will go over to the French town to pay their respects.

At the same time in Worthing, a Drumhead ceremony will be held outside the town hall in Chapel Road.

There will be a similar ceremony at the Old Steine War Memorial in Brighton

In Eastbourne there is a special exhibition telling the stories of 11 men who died at the battle and on Saturday (June 18) there will be a talk from historian Chris Kempshall about the impact the day had on Sussex.

Amanda said: "It has been a real grassroots effort to get this together and my worst fear is that people will hear these bells and not know what it was all about.

"The Southdowns battalions, which fought that day, were Sussex's pals' battalions. Those who died were just young men who signed up together, trained together, fought together and ultimately died together.

"It is important we remember them 100 year on."

If your church would like to take part in the event email andy.maxted@brighton-hove.gov.uk.