Have you ever wanted to delve into the past and trace the lives of your ancestors?

Inspired by the popular BBC programme Who Do You Think You Are?, many people have started researching their family trees, but don’t know where to start or become stuck trying to trace an ancestor.

But, experienced volunteers from the Epsom and Ewell Local and Family History Centre (EELFHC) are organising a local Family History Day to give people the tools to unearth their past.

The free event will help you to search historic censuses; find birth, marriage and death certificates; understand military records; seek parish and probate records; use the internet for searches; research local newspapers; and learn what local resources and records about Epsom and Ewell are held at the local history centre.    

Ian Parker, of EELFHC, says: "This will be the 11th year we have run a family history day. 

"It has been a very successful and popular event and many people have asked us to repeat the exercise again.

"We want to help people discover how to go about researching their own family histories, whether they are starting out or if they have a specific question that is hindering their research."

Family History Day; Ewell Library, Bourne Hall, Spring Street, Ewell; October 19; 10am to 4pm; free; call 0300 200 1001; email epsomandewelllhc@yahoo.co.uk