IT was a night of vintage costumes, slapstick humour and patriotic celebration as a cinema played host to a special Dad’s Army tribute night.

The Royalty in Lake Road, Bowness, was draped in Union Jacks on Saturday evening as people dressed in 1940s clothing Captain George Mainwaring would be proud of to mark the release of the new film based on the BBC television sitcom classic.

Vintage advertisements and a Second World War newsreel were broadcast on screen to create a historic atmosphere for cinema-goers, and talented pianist Paul Gregson played the cinema’s famous 1927 Wurlitzer organ to set the mood further during the intervals.

Military uniforms, bomb shelter hats and gas masks formed part of many costumes, with some of the best dressed attendees winning prizes on the night.

Mark Latimer, who is known locally as the conductor of Dalton Town Band, was one of those in attendance at the event.

The 43-year-old said: “It was good fun.

“There were 150 people, which was great.

“A good proportion dressed up in army uniforms or civilian dress from that time. People enjoyed it.

“I think lots of us remember Dad’s Army being on the telly in the 70s.

“The film is a homage to it.”

The 2016 Dad’s Army film, which stars the likes of Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Toby Jones, sees the Home Guard discover a German spy is on the loose in Walmington-on-Sea.