FORMER land girls in Wellington and the surrounding area can apply for a special lapel badge from this week, in recognition of the the difficult and often dangerous work undertaken by them in wartime.

More than 60 years after they left their homes to serve their country, members of the Women's Land Army and Women's Timber Corps are being urged to get in touch to claim their reward.

Former Sanford Arms, Wellington, landlady Wendy Bird was 19 when she became a Land Girl.

"We did everything," she said. "I learned to drive an old Fordson tractor which had an iron seat which was very cold to sit on in the winter.

"We also had to plant potatoes by hand.

"The news that we are to be given a medal has come too late for many women," she said.

See Wednesday's Wellington Weekly News for more on this story, and for all your local coverage.