Taunton and Wellington’s MP Gideon Amos rose in the House of Commons to honour those who served in the Pacific campaign and in Asia during the Second World War.

He was speaking in a debate held ahead of the 80th anniversary of VJ Day which will be marked on August 15th.

Those who served included local airmen from Somerset, as well as his own father, Captain Jim Amos, who served in Asia following redeployment from Europe.

The Liberal Democrat MP also spoke of the contribution made by the RAF’s Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) “whose courage and skill gathered intelligence, shortened conflicts and saved lives."

Among those, Mr Amos highlighted three Somerset men.

"Flying Officer Eric Durston from Wellington flew solo reconnaissance missions, capturing images critical to allied planning. He was lost over the Netherlands in 1942.

"On Christmas Eve 1944, Flying Officer Theo Priddle from Taunton died when his Spitfire was shot down over Utrecht.

Mr Amos went on to mention the efforts of Eric Hill of Taunton, who "flew Mosquitos across the Arctic, on the Eastern front and over Germany.

“One such mission, to photograph Tirpitz, was over 3,000 miles and lasted more than ten hours. It is thought to be the longest reconnaissance operation of the entire war."

"He survived and went on to fulfil the dream of playing, and later commentating on, cricket for Somerset. He is commemorated in the press box at the County Ground a few hundred yards from my own home.

Mr Amos added: “These stories remind us that everyday folk get caught up in war and do extraordinarily courageous things.

“We owe it to those who serve to stand with veterans, to remember them and their sacrifice.”

A site for a permanent memorial to the pilots and photo interpreters - outside the Churchill War Rooms in Whitehall - has been secured in principle with the planning and design stages getting under way.

A special website has also been created at https://www.spitfireaa810.co.uk/national-memorial