The reality of the First World War will be discussed at poetry forum in St Albans next Sunday.

The discussion forum will be held on Sunday, July 13 to support the Museum of St Albans’ exhibition on the historic war.

Residents will have the opportunity to discuss how the poems reflect the reality of war and to look round the ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’ exhibition.

The free special event ‘Reflections of Reality’ starts at 1pm when visitors will be able to tour the museum exhibition for 30 minutes before normal opening hours.

They can then listen to readings of poetry inspired by the First World War at 1.30pm, before taking part in the discussion forum at 2pm. Participants’ will look at the reality of the poetry and how it compares with the official government statements and propaganda of the time.

Work is now underway to raise funds to transform the grade II* listed Town Hall in St Peters Street into a new home for the Museum of St Albans. The £6.75m “renaissance: St Albans” project will see the Museum of St Albans and the University of Hertfordshire gallery move from Hatfield Road to the Town Hall.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has already pledged £2.8m towards the cost of the new museum and gallery project. This includes an initial award for first phase development funding of £282,000.

St Albans District Council, St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust and the University of Hertfordshire are working to raise the balance.