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A special ceremony is being held in Poole on October 16 to honour British forces who saw action in France on D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.

Commemorative chest badges provided by the Lower Normandy Regional Council will be presented to 37 veterans in the ceremony being held in the Borough of Poole's Council Chamber.

The presentations will be made by Mayor of Poole Councillor Les Burden, the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Captain Michael Fulford-Dobson and the President of Normandie Memoire 60^th Anniversary Association Admiral Christian Brac de la Perriere.

Mayor Cllr Burden said: "It's a great privilege and honour to present the veterans of Poole with these badges provided by the French as a generous act of gratitude and goodwill to the British Allied forces who served in Normandy."

A total of 6,000 veterans are being awarded the badges by the French. Those who were able to travel across the Channel for the anniversary commemorations earlier this year received badges in ceremonies in Normandy. For those unable to travel but who are entitled to a badge the Poole ceremony is one of a number taking place across the south of England during October 15 and 16.

In addition to the Poole veterans, the Poole ceremony will also see a collective presentation of 18 badges to Ted Thurston, chairman of the New Forest branch of the Normandy Veterans Association on behalf of members of the Highland Light Infantry and absent veterans. There will also be 41 badges given to Ken Ewing, Secretary of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, for Veterans of their Regimental Association.