A civil War re-enactment will be staged on The Common in Marlborough this summer, despite the reservations of some town councillors.

When the idea was discussed at a meeting in January, members were told the cost of the weekend could be up to £18,000.

A decision was made to write to the organiser, the English Civil War Society, saying the re-enactment could not be staged if sufficient funds were not secured and the responsibility would not fall on the council.

At Monday’s full council meeting, town clerk Shelley Parker said after funding from Marl-borough History Society and the English Civil War Society there was now a shortfall of £7,500.

If Marlborough Area Board approves a £5,000 grant application at its next meeting, the History Society will donate another £1,000 and the council would have to find only £1,500.

Coun Marian Hannaford Dobson said: “I think, for £1,500, we’d be real humbugs if we did not treat the people of the town to such a spectacle.

“I’m told by people I know on the Area Board that it probably would be looked at favourably.”

But Coun Nick Fogg said: “Is this the most appropriate way to spend money? We’re coming up to a major commemoration of the First World War; it may be more appropriate to put funding in some way to commemorating that.”

The re-enactment - over the weekend of July 26 and 27 – will depict the end of a three-day siege in Marlborough in 1642, when Royalists occupied The Common and ran through town.

It will sit alongside a programme of related events including lectures and demons- trations at Marlborough College Summer School, activities at the Merchant House and educational visits to primary schools.

Ian Macdonald-Watson, of the English Civil War Society, said: “We take it very seriously that we bring on youngsters and provide them with an opportunity to take part in an outdoor activity with good supervision.”