BROMYARD residents created a touching tribute to remember those who lost their lives in the D-Day landings 75 years ago.

The town's Royal British Legion's branch made another extensive display on the side of the A44 Bromyard bypass, after in November they created hundreds of poppies from old bottles.

This time they created a mural spelling out 'D-Day 75' and secretary Major (Retd) Jan Brodie-Murphy said the branch is one of the most active from the county, and they spent time visiting World War Two veterans yesterday (Thursday).

She said: "We're a strong branch and it's up to those of us who don't serve anymore to look after service people, and ensure they get help through the Poppy Appeal.

"People need to put money in buckets, the Royal British Legion is 365 days a year, not just the two weeks for the Poppy Appeal. Thursday was an excellent day, we had four events in town.

"At one o'clock the town and the Royal British Legion got together and met at a huge display we made."

Seven pupils from Queen Elizabeth High School joined the legion in the after to visit residents at a care home in the town, where 10 veterans live.

Major (Retd) Jan Brodie-Murphy said that she was amazed at how interested the pupils were in the stories the ex-servicemen told.

"We went to Whitegates Care Home, there's 10 veterans there and we made them certificates of appreciation and gave them D-Day badges," she added.

"It's amazing to know what people did, everyone has been saying it the past couple of days but we wouldn't have freedom today if they hadn't gone to Europe.

"I asked them after what they had learned, and I'm amazed at what they'd taken in. The day was exhilarating. It rose the profile of the legion and paid homage to those who served on D-Day."

The legion now turn their attention to this year's 'poppy festival'. The title of it will be 'World War II Evacuees Remembered` as 2019 marks the 80th Anniversary of the Kindertransport.

In 1938-39 the British government allowed 10,000 Jewish and other 'non-Aryan' children from occupied Europe to come to Britain and some of these children ended up in our County. Also in 1939 the first UK evacuation took place many other children and women came here from our own the big cities.

Schools were seconded to this area, e.g. Westminster to Buckenhill. Domestic and Zoo Animals were moved to safety onto our farms. Bromyard RBL said there are many stories to be told and school children, care home residents, other groups, organisations and clubs will set up displays in St Peter's Church.