An OAK tree is to be planted in Carlisle to mark the 75th Anniversary of D Day.

The Carlisle and Stanwix Branch of the Royal British Legion will mark the occasion with a special service next Thursday - the exact date of D Day.

It is hoped that a relative of a D Day veteran will be able to attend to plant the tree.

It is believed that Carlisle has no remaining D Day veterans.

Major Jos Mark, who was part of the landings, died in February and Joe Corry, believed to be a former member of Special Forces involved in the operation, died last week.

The tree will be planted in Rickerby Park Carlisle at 11.30am, by the war memorial.

An assembly of ex-servicemen will take place and a short dedication service will be led by Reverend Keith Teasdale, the local Royal British Legion Chaplain.

The Mayor of Carlisle, councillor Marilyn Bowman and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Ian Brown are also expected to attend.

Members of the public and especially those who have relatives who were involved in the D Day Landings are very welcome to assemble in the vicinity of the War Memorial by 11.25am.

Parking is limited and members of the public are requested to park outside Rickerby Park and walk to the memorial area.

The invasion of France in 1944, Codenamed Operation Overlord, was the most significant victory of the Western Allies during the Second World War, but came at a brutal cost.

The Allied casualties figures for D-Day have generally been estimated at 10,000, including 2,500 dead.

Broken down by nationality, the casualty figures are approximately 2,700 British, 946 Canadians, and 6,603 Americans. Around 200,000 German troops were killed or wounded.