MEMBERS of the Stourport branch of the Royal British Legion have celebrated the dedication of their new standard.

It was blessed during a ceremony at the town's St Michael and All Angels Church, which included the laying up of the old standard.

Before Sunday's service, members mustered and marched along Church Drive before being dismissed outside the church.

During a service conducted by Rev Barry Gilbert the new standard was blessed on the altar.

The Stourport and district branch was one of the first in the country to be founded, in 1921, and has around 200 members.

Standards, originally designed by Colonel E C Heath in 1923, are seen as a symbolic reminder to members of the Legion's motto, Service not Self.

The Union Flag in the top left-hand corner represents the Legion's unity and loyalty to the crown, community and nation.

Royal blue signifies fidelity and the gold band recalls all those who died in the service of their country.

Chairman, Dave Milton, said "Everybody has been doing their best" to help fund the new standard and it has taken the branch two years to raise the money needed.

Branch member, John Bevon, said: "The old one is out of service as it dates back to 1931. It is replaced every 10 to 15 years and the old one is laid up and hung in the church."

More than 100 people attended the ceremony including the mayor of Stourport, Michael Freeman, and the mayors of Bewdley, Kidderm-inster and Droitwich.