THEY risked life and limb in the Western Desert to protect world freedom, but now the local branch of the 8th Army Veterans Association is no more.

At one time the Bury and District branch, which despite its name had a membership made up mainly of Radcliffe men, boasted around 50 members.

Along with the 30 other branches nationwide, it attended huge annual get-togethers at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

But age, illness and death meant that numbers declined and by the time it disbanded in February 2000 there was just four members.

One of them was Mr Bill Bent (78) of Stanley Road, Radcliffe, who made many bombing raids on German targets when he flew for the RAF under the 8th Army.

"You have to accept that time moves on which is why we are holding a short ceremony this coming Sunday (March ) to officially end the branch."

A service will be held at 12.30pm in St Thomas Church and will involve the laying down of the branch standard. Friends and relatives of veterans are encouraged to attend.

"It's sad in a way, but the comradeship and the memories will never die out," said Mr Bent.

"There's still two or three of us who meet up once a week at the pub to talk about old times."