Second World War veterans from Wiltshire have been left dumbstruck after being told the Government will now fund their trips to Normandy to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Veterans were close to raising the £20,000 needed to fund their trips when the U-turn was announced.

Lottery cash will now be made available to pay for the trips to both Europe and the Far East to all commemoration events up until next year.

Veterans will receive up to £500 to fund trips to Normandy with up to £4,000 for servicemen attending VJ Day events in the Far East. The package includes provision for a carer or spouse.

The news is a U-turn for the Government which, in February, said it would finance only the 100th anniversary trip, not the trip this June as it was deemed to be important enough.

This left veterans from the Wiltshire branch of the Normandy Veterans Association with no choice but to stand outside supermarkets with collection tins so they could pay their respects to comrades for the last time.

Bob Conway, 83, chairman of the Wiltshire branch of the NVA, said: "I'm dumbstruck because three weeks ago we had a letter from the Lottery funding saying their pockets weren't big enough.

"We had a Normandy Veterans Committee meeting on Tuesday and no one knew about this so I'm very surprised.

"We've paid up for our trip now so whether they'll pay us back I don't know."

The Wiltshire branch was left needing to raise £20,000 to take 45 members on a six-day trip to France, during which they will take part in marches and parades.

Earlier this month the veterans raised more than £1,600 from shoppers at Morrisons in Chippenham and the West Wiltshire Military Vehicle Trust donated £250 to veterans after an event at Whitehall Garden Centre in Corsham Road, Lacock.

The veterans will still be collecting at Sainsbury’s in Bath Road, Chippenham, tomorrow.