Today, on the anniversary of D-Day, I was honoured to join war veterans at a special service in Sunderland to remember the courageous men and women who played their part 75 years ago.

Many local men saw action on D-Day – the turning point of World War II – including camera shop owner Charles Eagles and former Director of Education for Sunderland John Bridge.

Sunderland-born actress Christine Norden also made history, after risking her life to become the first female performer to land on the Normandy beaches to entertain the troops in 1944.