THE most severely injured British soldier to survive the Afghanistan War will help start the 2017 Haworth 1940s Weekend this spring.

Ben Parkinson will host a VIP Night and "Money-can't-buy" auction on Thursday May 18.

This takes place from 7pm in Mill Hey Brewhouse, Haworth. Tickets are already available from Nikki Milner at Firth's Boutique in the village's Main Street.

Ms Milner can also be contacted for tickets by e-mailing firthsboutique@live.co.uk

Lance bombardier Parkinson is ambassador and patron for Pilgrim Bandits Charity – the chosen beneficiary for this year’s 1940s Weekend, which runs over the weekend of May 20 and May 21.

Pilgrim Bandits was originally formed by a small group of ex-SAS personnel to push injured servicemen to their personal limits via extreme expeditions to help restore confidence.

The group became a recognised charity in 2010. A spokesman for the charity explained: "We don't do sympathy. As any member of The Regiment will remember from their selection days it’s about 'always being able to go a little further', and that’s what we try and get across to these injured servicemen. "Many didn’t want to leave the life they had chosen, yet because of their injuries they are forced to and that can lead to a lack of confidence.

"By taking them on adventure training expeditions where the conditions are like those in the Forces, they are pushed incredibly hard.

"This restores self-belief which enables them to compete in events like the Paralympics."

Lance bombardier Parkinson sustained over 40 horrendous injuries when the vehicle he was travelling in hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan's Helmand province in 2006.

He was expected to die, remained in a coma for over six months, and was told he would never walk or talk again.

But the extent of his recovery has since defied all medical opinion. He is now able to both speak and, with the aid of prosthetic limbs, walk.

He was awarded the MBE in 2013 for his remarkable contribution to charity, raising more than £1 million by that time.

He has also boosted awareness of the plight of the most badly hurt from modern conflicts.