Ref. 30108-28A MEMORIAL honouring men and women who took part in D-Day and the Arnhem landings has been unveiled at a former airfield near Swindon.

The event took place at the site of the old Blakehill Farm airfield near Cricklade.

War veterans attended a special dedication service to mark the occasion at Braydon Lane, Chelworth, yesterday.

The sun was shining as the Rev Stephen Oram, the vicar of Cricklade, opened the service, which also featured standard bearers, a military parade and music by Cirencester Salvation Army Band.

The RAF's 233 Squadron, volunteer WAAF air ambulance nurses and Transport Command were based at the farm in the run up to the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

The Glider Pilot Regiment left from Blakehill for the invasion and the Arnhem landings in September that year.

Bill Higgs, 84, from Wroughton, served in the Glider Pilot Regiment from 1942 until 1947 and remembers flying from Blakehill Farm Airfield during the Second World War.

He said: "I got shot in the lung and then I was taken prisoner of war and spent two years in a sanatorium. That marked the end of my service. I think the memorial is great."

Frank Newhouse, 79, from Wootton Bassett, was also pleased with the cairn.

He said: "I served in the 10th parachute battalion and this brings back memories. It pays tribute to the sacrifices people made."

More than 100 people attended the service, which included hymns, readings and prayers.

Michael Watts, 85, who served in the Glider Pilot Regiment for two years, travelled from Birmingham to attend. He said: "I flew to Arnhem and was shot at by German aircraft, I've still got the bullet in my spine. It was an exciting but also very frightening time. It is very nice to be remembered."

Peter Gammon, 83, from Guildford, has fond memories of his service at Blakehill.

He said: "It was a great camp. This memorial is very important and should have been built years ago."

Victoria Tagg