Thousands of invitations have been sent to households across Bury St Edmunds to encourage people to book free tickets for a ‘breathtaking’ after-dark trail to commemorate one of the most important events in history.

The Magna Carta sound and light trail called ‘Our Liberty’, takes place on six nights from Sunday October 19 and is part of a year of activities to commemorate Bury St Edmunds’ role in the events of 1214 which led to King John putting his seal to Magna Carta at Runnymede the following year.

Preparation for the trail, which will also acknowledge pageants held in the town in 1907 and 1959, has been underway for the last three years under the direction of Marcus Eustace from St Edmundsbury Theatre Services.

Project Manager for the town’s Magna Carta 800 Committee, Alan Baxter, said: “This will be a breathtaking walk through history illustrated with sound and light at key points in the town centre. We’ll walk in the steps of the Barons who met in the town in the 13th century thanks to 21st century technology.

“A great deal of hard work has gone into this fantastic event and I’d urge people to book their tickets early to guarantee a place.”

He added that The Magna Carta 800 Committee is particularly grateful to Whatley Lane Estate Agents of Churchgate Street, who sponsored the printing and delivery of the invitations.

Schoolchildren from across the town have played a key role in the preparation for the trail, painting panels for a sculpture in the Abbey Gardens. Youngsters from a local stage school have also re-enacted the Baron’s pilgrimage to the town on St Edmund’s Day in 1214, a film of which will form part of the ‘Our Liberty’ spectacular.

The Magna Carta 800 Committee’s project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is being spearheaded by the Bury Society, which has been working with St Edmundsbury Cathedral and the Borough Council to deliver the trail as well as the once in a lifetime visit to the town of an original 1215 copy of the Magna Carta. Bookings for the ‘Our Liberty’ light and sound trail must be made online via www.burymagnacarta.org.