A TARGET of £50,000 has been set for Worcestershire as part of a £5m Jubilee Appeal for Commonwealth war veterans who are now living in poverty.

So far, £12,000 has been raised in the county to help some of the half a million volunteers from 40 Commonwealth countries who were injured fighting alongside British soldiers during the Second World War.

Many are living in poverty and distress and the number in need of help is expected to rise as they grow older, reaching 125,000 by 2010.

"In their youth they were proud to help us. Now, in their hour of need, we can repay our nation's debt of honour and gratitude," said Worcestershire appeal chairman Brigadier Ronnie Silk.

He said the money raised by the appeal would help to swell the coffers of the British Commonwealth Ex-Services League (BCEL), which helps support 35,000 veterans and aims to provide at least one meal per day for every veteran.

The national appeal, nominated by the Duke of Edinburgh as one of six Golden Jubilee charities, has raised £3.1m since it was launched in 2002.

Medical funds

Three sponsored medical funds have been set up and seven maize mills have been built in Africa as a result.

The Worcestershire appeal is being co-ordinated at the Regimental Headquarters of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, Norton Barracks, Worcester, WR5 2PA.