WAR veterans met with NHS bosses to stress the importance of a Haslingden-based charity.

Darren Horsnall, who served in the Falklands War, and Graham Gilsenan, an ex-firefighter who served in Croatia and spent time in the French Foreign Legion, wanted to highlight the work of Veterans in Communities (VIC).

The pair met board members at East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to share their experiences.

Di van Ruitenbeek, CCG chairman, praised their work.

She said: “Darren and Graham told extremely powerful, individual stories, which outlined their experiences, both in the military and emergency services and also in civilian life, highlighting key issues they have been faced with.”

The charity’s manager, Bob Elliot, said: “We have been fortunate enough to receive funding from the CCG, and the group wanted to see how VIC had made a difference to the lives of veterans.”