AN MP has urged Second World War veterans to take advantage of a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ chance to revisit historic battlefields like Normandy.

As part of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, veterans can apply for funding to pay for their travel and accommodation.

It comes as events are set to be held across Brtian to mark the anniversary of the military operation which was the turning point of the war.

Through ‘Heroes Return’, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Second World War veterans can access grants of £165 to £8,140 towards travel and accommodation expenses to enable them their spouse and carers to make trips back to places where they served, or make a commemorative visit in the UK.

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle said: “It is important that veterans are able to visit the battlefields and commemorate the events of the war.

“I know there are veterans living here who served during the Second World War and I would advise them to make contact with the Heroes Return team.”

The fallen from Normandy will be remembered at a small service at the cenotaph in Nelson, attended by the mayor, where a wreath will be laid.

It will be followed on Sunday by a service at St Thomas’s Church in Barrowford.

Mike Sutcliffe from the Pendle branch of the Royal British Legion said: “Time is running out for the guys who served in Normandy and it is important we remember them.

“The young people here need to understand what these men went through and why. We do a lot of work in schools and we tell them if it wasn’t for our soldiers this would have come here and the message hits home. It is important to recognise what these men did and I fully support Mr Hoyle in his call for veterans to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

Further details can be found at biglotteryfund.org.uk/heroesreturn or by calling our Heroes Return helpline 0845 0000 121.