Inbetweeners stars Joe Thomas and Simon Bird have landed a series for their First World War sitcom, Chickens.

The duo filmed a pilot episode, screened by Channel 4 last year, but the six-part series has now been picked up by Sky1 HD.

In the series, Thomas and Bird are joined by series co-writer Jonny Sweet playing three hapless conscientious objectors in a sleepy British village trying to justify their absence from the frontline.

Sky's head of comedy Lucy Lumsden said: "We have fallen in love with those naughty chickens. We are delighted to give such a talented bunch a home."

Thomas and Bird shot to fame in 2008 with the release of The Inbetweeners, which gave rise to a hugely successful movie last year.

Thomas was also seen last year in Channel 4 student comedy Fresh Meat, starring alongside comedian Jack Whitehall.

He said of Chickens: "We feel like it is a rich setting and the advantage of writing about the past, we know there is stuff we can draw on."

The series will be screened next year.