The minute by minute back story to the D-Day landings will be brought to life in a play to commemorate the 75th anniversary year of those dark days.

Loughton Amateur Dramatic Society (LADS) will be launching their new season with new play Pressure by David Haig on October 31.

The play tells a significant back story to the D-Day landings in June 1944. It set at Southwick House, the headquarters of Operation Overlord, where the Supreme Commander, Dwight Eisenhower, is waiting to order the attack. His decision hangs upon the weather.

British meteorologist James Stagg is under pressure to produce the correct forecast. He is studying the air pressure over Europe and the Atlantic. The wrong conditions could jeopardise 350,000 lives and put the Allied invasion in danger. Stagg’s forecast is critical.

Jean Cooper, chairman of LADS, said: “LADS is excited to be bringing this gripping play to Lopping Hall in the year of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. We hope our claim to produce plays of ‘true dramatic worth’ will be borne out with this drama of WWII history. We are especially proud because the play chimes in perfectly with the charity that LADS will be supporting in 2019/20.”

The society will be supporting BLESMA, the limbless veterans charity based in Chadwell Heath who has helped a large amount of servicemen to regain their lives and independence after suffering from life-changing injuries. They plan to have charity collection boxes at the performances and will donate the proceeds of programme sales to help BLESMA members.

Roy Hayward, 94, a member of BLESMA who lost both his legs when his tank was shelled after D-Day, will be one of those to benefit from the money raised by the drama society. The money will go towards keeping his garden useable and allowing him to live independently.

He said the charity gives him "a feeling of camaraderie and that there is someone behind me, protecting my interests".

LADS have produced a play by the actor David Haig once before. My Boy Jack was set in the First World War and won the society the NODA award for the Best Play in the London region in 2013.

LADS will be performing ‘Pressure’ at Lopping Hall, High Road, Loughton at 8pm on October 31 and November 1 and 2. Tickets cost £10 and available from 07552 736110 or www.lads.org.uk.