EVERYONE who enjoyed the recent visit of 'Joey the War Horse' to Iddesleigh can re-live the fun by watching BBC Countryfile this Sunday.

Joey was in the form of a stunning life-size puppet bringing to life the eponymous equine character of War Horse — the children's book by Iddesleigh's own Michael Morpurgo.

The novel, set in the first world war, tells of the bond between a boy and his horse, and has been a worldwide success, sparking a stage production as well as a major feature film.

BBC had a film crew from their Countryfile programme at the event, and the visit is due to be featured on the programme on Sunday, September 22.

The West Devon village, and the home of the author, 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 revamped Theatre Royal, Plymouth.

The visit brought brought out more than 150 people, with villagers gathering for the occasion that will be remembered by locals for many years to come.

Among those to take part in the day were Hatherleigh Silver Band, who have been immortalised in the book with the line 'And so I came home from the war that Christmas-time with my Albert riding me up into the village, and there to greet us was the silver band from Hatherleigh and the rapturous peeling of church bells'.

The band has strong links to both Iddesleigh and Mr Morpurgo — the band performed at the opening of the War Horse Museum on the edge of the village, and Mr Morpurgo was a former president of the band. They also recently played at his granddaughter's wedding in Iddesleigh, upon Mr Morpurgo's invitation.

They performed an arrangement of 'Scarlet and Blue', a piece composed for the National Theatre production, as well as various marches from their usual repertoire.

The event concluded on a reflective note, with a moving rendition of the Last Post and Reveille at the village war memorial by principal cornet player Mike Boother.

Check the BBC One schedules for an exact air time on Sunday.