THE VILLAGE of Iddesleigh enjoyed a day to remember last Thursday, when the famous star of the National Theatre's smash hit play War Horse trotted in to a hero's welcome.

Joey was in the form of a stunning life size puppet, animating the star equine character of 'War Horse' — the best-selling children's book by Iddesleigh's own Michael Murpurgo, which has since been adapted for stage and latterly screen by Steven Spielberg.

The children's book, set in the first world war and telling of the bond between a boy and his horse.

Iddesleigh, and the home of Michael Morpurgo, was chosen by the National Theatre Company in London as the perfect place to launch a year-long tour of the latest version of the stage play, with its first production soon to be held in the re-vamped Theatre Royal, Plymouth.

Joey, worked by three actors and mounted by actor Lee Armstrong, who is playing lead character Albert in the production, was escorted into the village by members of Iddesleigh Friendly Society and to the musical accompaniment of Hatherleigh Silver Band.

With the village colourfully festooned in bunting, more than a 150 people gathered for an occasion which will be remembered by locals for many a year.

Michael Murpurgo read a short extract and entertained the pupils from Hatherleigh School who had come especially to see Joey and the expert puppeteers.

He reminded the children that Iddesleigh and its people was the place which had inspired the tale of Joey — the little foal with a distinguished white cross on his forehead and four immaculate white 'socks' — born on a West Devon farm and sold to the Army for three guineas, unbeknown to its owner's son Albert.

The plucky horse ends up in the hellish battle fields of the first world war in France.

Mr Murpurgo recalled the privilege of meeting men from the village such as Wilf Ellis, Albert Weeks and Captain Budgett, who served in the British Army during the First World War.

He met them 35 years ago, when they were in their eighties. They would recount their tales to him in front of a fire in the Duke of York, the village pub, and their stories and experiences were the inspiration for 'War Horse.'

Mr Morpurgo told the children: 'Many men who lived in the village went off to war and sadly many did not come back.

'They took part in a war that was truly dreadful, where 10 million people were killed, some of them from this village.

'Captain Budgett told me how close the men were with their horses in the war.

'No one wins wars. War Horse is not just a war story but was written to show what connects us — and that is suffering. Rather it is a play about peace and our attempts to make reconciliation.'

When asked by one of the Hatherleigh School children why he started to write Mr Murpurgo, a former teacher, said he used to read out stories towards the end of the day to keep his Year 6 pupils quiet!

When he ran out of stories to read he started to make up ones of his own.

The author was delighted that the stage play had been seen by more than four million people all over the world, and was particularly happy that it was soon heading for Germany, Britain's foe in the Great War.

Lee Armstrong, the National Theatre actor who plays farmer's son Albert told the Times he had never been to this part of the country before — and was most impressed.

He said: 'It's beautiful countryside and what struck me was you can look out from the village and see horses in the fields in the distance.

'Today coming here you can see what 'War Horse' means to the local community.

'They love the production and it's an important story to be told.

'Michael was saying there are no positives from war, it's both scary and sad, not just for individuals but whole communities.

'Theatre makes people empathise and even though we live in a more competitive world today than the time of when 'War Horse' was set, the telling of such stories and promoting peace is so important.

'War Horse'is a story of belief in the human spirit to conquer, of people working together for the common good.'

Caroline Boother, headteacher of Hatherleigh School, said: 'To have a famous author and this wonderful puppet and actors come today has made the whole place come alive.

'It's a lovely occasion. For some of the pupils this is their very first day at school, not a bad start!'

Villager Jane Lloyd told the Times: 'I think this is absolutely tremendous and the day has pulled the whole community together.

'It's a wonderful atmosphere and everybody in the village has turned up. It's such a warm friendly place to live and today is an occasion I won't forget.

Jane was one of the many volunteers from Iddlesleigh, who helped the event run smoothly with people directing traffic, overseeing the car park and providing refreshments in the village hall.

The crowd gathered around the village war memorial to the war dead, where those who had fallen from the village were remembered and Mike Boother of Hatherleigh Silver Band played 'the Last Post.'

Landlord of the Duke of York John Pittam said it was a very special day for the village.

'It's fantastic to see all these people and the community pulling together. When Joey came through the village and the band was playing it brought a lump to the throat,' said John.

'What a great day for Devon and what a great day for Iddlesleigh.'