A WAR hero from Minchinhampton was invited to spend a once in a lifetime day at Buckingham Palace to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

Ken Bucknell, 79, who was just 18 when he joined the RAF as a flight engineer, was awarded the 39-45 Star, the Victory in Europe Star, the Air Crew Star and the Victory Star for his contribution to the war effort.

He was part of a crew of eight stationed at RAF Swinderby, whose average age was under 21.

Mr Bucknell and his wife Eva, 81, travelled to London with his friend Douglas Drake, 85, of Culver Hill in Amberley and his partner Elizabeth Brown, 70, who were amongst veterans invited to dine with dignitaries including Her Majesty, Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher.

On arrival at the palace gates, the couple were greeted by a royal naval officer who had been assigned to look after Mr and Mrs Bucknell, who is in a wheelchair.

The couple, of Dr Brown's Close, were then taken to the lawn where they were served cool drinks by white-coated waiters, before proceeding to the dining area for a champagne reception.

They were seated on a table of ten, headed by Colonel Haggie. They enjoyed a lunch of salmon, asparagus, new potatoes and salad served with white wine, followed by gooseberry shortbread.

After lunch, the Queen delivered a speech in appreciation of the veterans, followed by a parade by the horse guards and a flypast of World War Two aircraft including a Lancaster Bomber, which dropped thousands of poppies.

Mr Bucknell said: "It was an absolute thrill. It was one of those days that stay with you for the rest of your life.

"The food was marvellous, and beautifully served. There was no 'them and us'. All the dignitaries circulated and came and chatted to us. I have never been invited to anything like it before.

"During the flypast, there was a crowd of about half a million at the front of the palace. The atmosphere was absolutely wonderful. Many vets had tears in their eyes."