The church of St Giles, the only remaining original building in the “lost” village of Imber on Salisbury Plain will be open to the public on selected dates throughout August.

Visitors will be able to wander round the church and churchyard on Saturday August 3, Sunday August 4, Wednesday August 7, Saturday August 10, Sunday August 11, Wednesday August 14, Saturday August 17, Sunday August 18 and Wednesday August 19.

The opening times are 10am to 4pm on Saturdays and Wednesdays and 11am to 5pm on Sundays. There is a possibility of the village being open on other dates in August and anyone interested is advised to check on the internet.

Later in the year, the annual St Gilestide service will take place at St Giles Church on Saturday September 21 at 3pm. The church will also be open to visitors on Sunday September 22 and opening times will be published nearer the date.

The Remembrance service will be held on Saturday November 9 at 11am the roads to Imber will be open between December 21 and January 5. The Christmas carol service is provisionally booked at the church on Saturday December 21.

Imber, near Bratton, was evacuated in 1943 because the then Ministry of War declared it was needed for training. Villagers insist that the Army told them they could return at the end of the war, but this has always been denied by successive governments.