AROUND 200 people attended West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox's tea party for former Land Girls and Lumber Jills at the Clinton Hall, Merton, on Saturday.

The party was held just for former second world war Land Girls and Lumber Jills living in West Devon and Torridge. Mr Cox said that he wanted to organise the party because he did not believe enough had been done to recognise their service to the country.

The event was attended by more than 200 people, including around 100 Land Girls who had served in the Land Army or the Timber Corps during the war.

A sumptuous tea was prepared at the hall, which was festively decorated with Union flags, original wartime posters and memorabilia, and a slideshow of the Land Army in action.

Mr Cox particularly thanked a member of his staff, Katie Lovering, from Great Torrington, who had taken charge of tracking down local Land Girls and making the arrangements.

Those attending also included the deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon Mark Parkhouse, Okehampton mayor Kay Bickley, Tavistock mayor Robin Pike and mayors of Bideford and Great Torrington, the deputy mayor of West Devon Margaret Garton, deputy mayor of Holsworthy, and the chairman of Torridge District Council.

Mr Cox said: 'Our guests of honour seemed to enjoy the occasion very much, and I was very proud to meet and to thank these wonderful ladies for their hard work for their country sixty years ago.

'I strongly believe that we should celebrate the values of service and sacrifice much more than we do, and this tea party for the Land Girls and Lumber Jills of the second world war was an occasion to express the real gratitude of our communities for their service on the land at a time of grave danger and desperate need.'