VETERANS of the invasion of Normandy in 1944 will be setting out next Friday (August 24) to see a piece of the Malvern Hills in its new setting.

A boulder of granite from North Quarry has been installed in a lay-by as a memorial to Worcestershire soldiers who fell during the D-Day landings.

Jack Bullock, of Barnards Green, is one of the veterans making the pilgrimage to see the new monument, which marks the spot where the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment had its headquarters in the days after the landing.

Some 30 old soldiers are expected to make the trip to see the stone unveiled on Sunday, August 27.

Among the local people who put their efforts towards moving and installing the memorial are Brian Wheeler, of Birtsmorton, who drove the crane, which lifted the stone from its resting place in the quarry. It was stored at Dave Phillips's yard in Spring Lane.

Dave Plant drove the lorry, which took the stone from Malvern to Normandy; local garage Brooklyn Ford supplied the diesel. And Camille Country Workshops of Leigh Sinton made the plaque which has been fixed to the stone.

Mr Bullock said: "The 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment Association wants to thank everyone who helped us in this project."