AN EVENT which saw 200 top business people from Lancashire meeting representatives of the armed forces was held at County Hall in Preston.

The champagne reception was hosted by the High Sheriff of Lancashire, Tony Brennan, on behalf of the National Employers' Liaison Committee (NELC).

The event was organised to promote the reserve forces among local employers.

Mr Brennan said: "The considerable interest shown by all those who attended demonstrates the strength of feeling for all these reserve forces as a whole and especially those in Lancashire."

Chairman of the NELC, Philip Oglethorpe, praised the event and said it was an excellent means of promoting links between local industry and the reserve units of the army, air force and navy.

Guests, including Mr Iain Aiken, regional managing director of Newsquest (Lancashire) Ltd, were entertained by the King's Division Band and the Army Cadet Force Corps of Drums, which trains at Kimberley Barracks in Preston.

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