A CITY yesterday celebrated the achievement’s of the Women’s Land Army and Timber Corps.

Dozens of members of the two organisations were invited to a civic reception by Sunderland City Council to be formally thanked for their contribution to the country during and after the Second World War.

The women, mostly in their 80s were guests of Sunderland Mayor Mary Smith, council leader Councillor Paul Watson and Tyne and Wear Lord Lieutenant Nigel Sherlock.

Popularly known as the Land Girls and Lumber Jills, respectively, the women worked in every aspect of agriculture, preventing national food shortages, and in the forests to provide timber for the war efforts.

Councillor Smith said: “The Land Girls and Lumber Jills did everything from milking cows and digging ditches to harvesting crops, felling trees and sawing timber.

“As a result, people did not starve and the nation’s strong morale was maintained.”