VETERANS marked the anniversary of the end of the Second World War with a wreath-laying ceremony in a Worcester park as they remembered those who never came home to celebrate peace.

Around 40 veterans dressed smartly in their medals and military regalia attended the ceremony today (Friday) as the wreath was laid in Gheluvelt Park in Barbourne, Worcester, marking the 70th anniversary of VE Day when peace came to Europe in 1945.

Meanwhile, the family of soldier who died the day after VE day when the plane he was on crashed near Paris urged the people of Worcester to spare a thought for those who never came home to celebrate the end of the war.

Harold Massam, chairman of the Worcester branch of the Worcester Foresters Regimental Association, said veterans from both the Worcester and Kidderminster branches were well represented at the commemoration ceremony.

The monument for the Worcestershire Regiment, unveiled last November, has provided a new focus for services of remembrance in the park

The 74-year-old of Portland Street, Diglis said: "It is a very significant day. That is one of the reasons why we put the Worcester stone in the park so we could remember the men who served in the Worcestershire Regiment."

He said following the amalgamations of the regiments to form what is now the Mercian Regiment it was important to remember the antecedent regiments which gave rise to it.

Mr Massam said: "It was a very good turnout. It was only a small wreath-laying service to honour the men that served in the Second World War. They should not be forgotten."

Mr Massam, who served in the 1960s as a lance corporal in the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment said the secretary of the Worcester branch, Maurice Smith, gave a short speech about the importance of honouring those who served in the regiment during the Second World War.

Nr Massam said: "Some children said 'what's the Worcestershires?' We thought, well, if the children don't know we should put something in the park to remind them there was a Worcestershire Regiment, for all the thousands of men who went through Norton Barracks."

The service included a one minute silence and the Last Post.

Arthur Cooper lost his brother-in-law Lance Sergeant Albie Thompson on May 9, 1945, the day after VE day, when the Lancaster plane he and others were being repatriated on crashed near Paris.

Mr Thompson who had been in the 7th Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment had spent the war in prisoner of war camps in Germany and Poland after being captured at Dunkirk.

Mr Cooper said: "Spare a thought for those who didn't get back."