AN event to mark women’s suffrage will be held at Stretford Public Hall Trafford.

Celebration of Suffrage, on March 24, is being organised by Stretford Women’s Institute, Trafford Action Group and Friends of Stretford Public Hall to celebrate the centenary of the Suffrage Act.

One hundred years ago, British women finally won the right to vote, a significant milestone fought for by the Suffragette movement.

Starting at 4pm, the institute will provide an afternoon of tea and crafts.

The tea will consist of a variety of delicate sandwiches, pate and dips, plus a selection of fine cakes, alongside a choice of traditional teas, coffee or soft drinks.

A lighter option of tea or coffee and cake will also be on offer.

The friends group will also operate a bar.

Visitors can also have a go at block printing and card making and there will be face painting for children, all free of charge.

This will be followed at 6.30pm with a screening of the film Suffragette, starring Helena Bonham Carter, Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep.

The film tells the story of Maud Watts who, galvanized by political activist Emmeline Pankhurst, joins a diverse group of women who fight for equality and the right to vote, risking their jobs, homes, family and lives for the cause.

On the day, the action group will light up the front of the hall in purple to honour the struggle of 1950s women for pensions justice and Wendy Eachus, leader of the Trafford Action Group, will introduce the film.

Annoushka Deighton, chairman of the friends group, said: “We are thrilled to be joining with the Stretford WI and Trafford Action Group to offer this celebratory afternoon and evening to mark the centenary of women getting the vote for the first time, and we are proud to have Wendy as our special guest.

“Members of the local community are invited to come along to either or both events and we look forward to welcoming you. “

The Representation of the People Act allowed women over the age of 30 who met a property qualification to vote.

At the time 8.5 million women met the criteria but it only represented 40 per cent of the total population of women in the UK.

The remaining women had to wait for the Equal Franchise Act of 1928, which gave all women over 21 the same voting rights as men.

Tickets for the film screening are £3 per person and can be booked at stretfordpublichall.eventbrite.com

The film is suitable for ages 12 and over. Doors will close at 7pm promptly for the screening to begin.

Tickets for the Stretford Women’s Institute Posh Tea and Crafts are £5.83 per person, and can be booked at eventbrite.co.uk/o/stretford-wi-16909219746