VETERANS of past conflicts gathered in Dorchester for a special service to mark National Veterans' Day.

The ex-servicemen and women were joined by Dorchester mayor Coun David Barrett and other town councillors for the service at The Keep Military Museum.

George Osborne, chairman of the Dorchester branch of the Royal Naval Association, who read the exhortation, said: "This is a tribute to all those who went in as boys and came out as young men and for all those who didn't come back at all."

The service was taken by the mayor's chaplain The Rev Paul Arnold and was attended by representatives from St John Ambulance, Dorchester scouts and guides.

Veterans' Day was launched last year as a celebration of the contribution made by all those who have served in the Armed Forces and as a means of raising public awareness of veterans' issues.