A D-DAY veteran willing to tell of the sacrifices made by troops on the Normandy beaches is being sought by the Richmond branch of the Royal British Legion.

The nation will mark the 60th anniversary of Operation Overlord on June 6 when a service is also planned in the Green Howards' Chapel at the town's St Mary's Church.

The regiment has a special link with Richmond, which is home to its regimental museum, and representatives from the Green Howards will be part of a short parade from the church to the war memorial in the nearby Friary Gardens.

The local branch of the Royal British Legion is hoping a personal testimony by a veteran who lived through the invasion will bring home the realities of a day which swung the outcome of the Second World War.

"We would welcome hearing from anyone from any of the armed forces who served on D-Day," said spokesman, David Johnson.

"All we would ask of them is that they are prepared to say a few words about the relevance of D-Day and the servicemen who lost their lives during the landings."

A total of 1,071 Allied servicemen were killed on D-Day - 27 of them Green Howards.

Middlebrough's Sergeant Major Stan Hollis of 6 Battalion, Green Howards, was the only soldier awarded a VC for gallantry on June 6, 1944.

Landing on Gold Beach, he destroyed an enemy pill-box single-handedly and then captured another, along with 30 prisoners.

Later the same day, he also saved the lives of two fellow soldiers, laying down covering fire on an anti-tank position allowing them to fall-back, while still under fire himself.

Anyone who can help the Legion with the 60th anniversary events is urged to contact Mr Johnson on (01748) 826452.