Eastleigh'S D-Day veterans paid their respects to comrades lost in battle at a heartfelt dedication ceremony beside the town's brand new tree memorial.

Members of the Eastleigh, Chandler's Ford and District branch of the Royal British Legion gathered at the foot of the newly planted Mulberry tree at the cemetery in Brookwood Avenue for prayers and a two-minute silence.

The commemorative tree, planted next to a row of war graves, was given the go ahead by cemetery bosses after groundsman Ian Travers came up with the idea to create a place for veterans to reflect on the harsh days of war and the friends they left behind.

Mr Travers, 35, of Chamberlayne Road, said: "I thought it would be the perfect time to put up a memorial in memory of all those that died at D-Day. It is for veterans in the area, who may not be able to travel to France, to pay their respects."

After the ceremony, held by All Saints Church curate, Revd Gavin Wort, Royal British Legion branch chairman, Norman Brown, handed over a certificate to Mr Travers in recognition of his dedication in providing the memorial.

He said: "He is a fantastic asset and for a young lad in that era to think of this and do something about it is great."

Yesterday British Legion members form the Eastleigh area saluted those D-Day heroes again with a town centre parade and a service at All Saints Church.

D-DAY - 60 YEARS ON: 16-pages of reports and pictures saluting the heroes of 1944 in today's Daily Echo.