Forces veterans from across the Black Country got together for nostalgic tributes when they received special badges from the Ministry of Defence to recognise their work serving their country.

Ceremonies in Dudley and Great Bridge were among many across the region to mark the first Veterans’ Day.

More than 150 veterans were at the event at Dudley Concert Hall when nostalgic wartime music in the style of forces favourite Vera Lynn was in the air as about 50 of them received their badges from the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor David Stanley.

There were also displays commemorating World War Two and the Falklands conflict and posters describing the exploits of various borough war heroes.

In Great Bridge, service veterans held a minute’s silence in memory of their late chairman when they met to pay tribute to those who had died in conflicts.

John Bayliss, who died last week, was the main organiser behind yesterday’s ceremony in Great Bridge. His widow Joan was a guest of honour. Mr Bayliss’s funeral will take place at noon on July 4, at the Crematorium in Newton Road, West Bromwich.

* Ex-servicemen in the Black Country are being invited to take part in a thanksgiving and remembrance event honouring those who fought for their country in both World Wars.  Stourbridge’s Royal British Legion have organised the event on July 8, at St Thomas’s Church, in Market Street.