HISTORICAL re-enactors from Wimborne were left in disbelief when their Facebook accounts were frozen after apparently being mistaken for right-wing groups from the Unites States.

The Wimborne Militia, which has around 60 members, recreates historical moments at local events around the town in East Dorset.

The group said the accounts of five members were disabled, leaving them unable to post photos and content.

Facebook said it has now reinstated the accounts.

At the start of December, the group’s Facebook page said: “It seems that due to events overseas, Facebook is deleting anything to do with Militias.

“Unfortunately, despite being a British Re-enactment society we seem to have been caught up in the algorithm.

“So if this page disappears that is why. We shall have to start again.”

A spokesperson for the Wimborne Militia group said: “We are a small re-enactment group that has a town charter that dates back over 400 years.

“We are the mayors official escort and we also mark various occasions in Wimborne such as firing muskets at the stroke of midnight New Year’s Eve and helping with the mayors charities.

“Unfortunately, we seem to be caught up in what is going on politically in America.

“Southern American Militias are rising up so Facebook has started deleting them. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to know the difference between a Texan with an AR15 automatic rifle and a British 17th century re-enactment group.

“Facebook has deleted the private accounts of all the administrators of the Wimborne Militias Facebook Page. Myself included along with five other members including The Town Crier of Wimborne.

“Myself and my wife have lost 14 years of photos and memories, including wedding photos and photos of our daughter growing up.

“No warning was given so we weren’t even given the opportunity to back anything up.”

A Facebook spokesman said: “The group and accounts were removed in error and have now been restored. We’re sorry for any upset this has caused and we’ve taken steps to prevent this happening again.”

Facebook has taken down hundreds of groups and pages linked to US-based militia groups, and thousands related to conspiracy theorists QAnon, in a bid to combat the growth of disinformation on the platform.

The move, announced in October, was part of a policy shift towards movements with links to violence and a crackdown on hate speech.