A MEETING is being held to discuss plans for how the town marks historic Mayflower celebrations in 2020.

An ambitious programme of events is already being lined up for the 40th anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers setting out for America.

Now any groups and organisations interested in getting involved are invited to a meeting of the working party to be held in the Clifton Room of the Guildhall at 6pm on Thursday next week.

Dartmouth has long been proud of its historical links with the pilgrim voyage to the New World when the Mayflower and Speedwell put in for repairs at Bayard's Cove before setting sail for America.

And the town hopes to party big time in five years' time, with events both at home and across the pond.

Volunteer John Putt said: 'We want this to be a real community celebration involving the whole town.

'Anybody that wants to get involved is invited to come along and share their ideas and their enthusiasm.'

One of the ideas is for people to dress up in costumes of that era and to build a plantation village in Royal Avenue Gardens, similar to America's living history museum of a small farming community built by the English colonists.

A play may also be written to be performed at Bayard's Cove Fort and discussions are under way with Dartmouth Academy to involve its students in the programme of events.

The working party from Dartmouth will be working closely with officials in Plymouth, which will be the centre of a series of activities to celebrate the voyage of 1620.

Prince Charles has been asked to be patron of the celebrations and an invitation has even gone to the White House for the future US President to attend – five years in advance.

Talks are also under way with partners in Plymouth, Massach­usetts, as well as in Boston, for activities to be run in conjunction and it is hoped to obtain lottery funding of up to £10m for the celebrations at the end of the decade.

Cllr Roger Chilcott told the town council last year: 'It will be of national and international significance and an opportunity this area can't miss.'

Harwich, in Essex, insists that it should be remembered as the birthplace of the Mayflower and has launched a £2.5m project to build a life-sized replica of the three-masted ship and sail it across the Atlantic to mark the 400th anniversary.

The planned journey will see the boat come into Southampton, Dart­mouth and Plymouth.