LUDLOW MP Philip Dunne is calling on residents to come together and discover the World War heritage on their doorstep by embracing War Graves Week, that ends on Saturday.

Mr Dunne, who is one of only two MPs to serve as a Commonwealth War Graves Commissioner, co-hosted an event in Parliament to promote War Graves Week, which will encourage local residents to learn about the stories of those commemorated by the CWGC in south Shropshire, as well as the skills, dedication and expertise of those CWGC staff who work to keep their memory alive.

Alongside Mr Dunne to support the launch was actress, Sue Holderness, familiar to Shropshire residents for playing the on-screen wife of the late actor and Ludlow resident, John Challis, on Only Fools and Horses and the Green Green Grass, which was filmed near Ludlow.

South Shropshire residents keen to learn more about the remarkable stories of the men and women of the Commonwealth forces that died in the First and Second World Wars who are buried in their community can visit www.CWGC.org and visit the cemeteries in person. War Graves Week provides a chance for the people of south Shropshire to reconnect with their local history.

More than 200 casualties from World War One and World War Two are buried at 74 locations across the Ludlow Constituency with over 30 commemorations at Bridgnorth Cemetery, the largest site in south Shropshire.

“I would encourage all my constituents to get involved with War Graves Week, which is a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with our local history and learn about the courageous ordinary people from our community who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Mr Dunne said.