One of the most costly battles of the First World War started 100 years ago next week.

More British soldiers were killed or injured on the first day of the offensive than in any other conflict in our history - 57,470 to be exact.

The Battle of the Somme was to go on for another 140 days. At the end, neither side had made any significant gains, but the combined British, Commonwealth, French and German casualties were recorded at over one million: 1,088,907.

There will be a ceremony to remember the fallen at Brenchley Gardens in Maidstone on Friday, July 1, the anniversary of the start of the campaign.

The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Derek Butler; the chairman of Kent County Council, Cllr Tom Gates; the leader of KCC, Cllr Paul Carter; and the leader of Maidstone Borough Council, Cllr Fran Wilson, will be among those attending the service which starts at 10.45am.

But there is an open invitation to anyone who wants to pay their respects to attend.

There will be a poetry reading, prayers, and the sounding of the Last Post.

The Mayor said: “The tragedy of the Somme has lived with the generations that followed and will continue to live with those in the future.

“Many of the fallen soldiers were part of our very own Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment and it’s only fitting that we’re able to honour their memory with this special commemoration.”

Maidstone Museum will host an exhibition on the Great War, entitled ‘Coming Home: Conflict and Care in 1916’ from September 24 to January 7, 2017.