Veteran designs pin containing D-Day beach sand

All proceeds from the sale of the pin go to the Royal British Legion, which supports veterans and serving personnel

A Shropshire veteran has helped to create a specially-made poppy pin, to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Alan Lock, from Dorrington, served in the Royal Navy, but lost his eyesight due to the onset of a rare degenerative eye condition.

The pin is made with sand from Gold Beach, one of the five codenamed beaches assaulted on 6 June 1944, and scraps of reclaimed metal shavings taken from the restored landing craft tank LCT 7074, which landed on the beach.

Funds raised from the sale of the pin are donated to the Royal British Legion (RBL).

"Hopefully when people are wearing it, it's just something a bit special that helps them remember the events of today," said Mr Lock.

He created the pin with another serviceman, John Mercer, through their small jewellery business Icarus Originals, whose launch was supported by an RBL partner charity.

"We wanted to try and produce something special that really had a connection to the events of the day itself, and obviously something that could raise money for the Royal British Legion," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"It's really important that we keep that link going back to generations before," he added.

• Follow D-Day commemorations live across the BBC

"D-Day is a key part of our history. It was such a turning point in terms of the war. The number of people involved, men and women from both the UK, the Commonwealth and the allied countries, is really incredible."

"It's obviously a time to reflect back on the sacrifice that everyone made at that time, to give us the freedoms we enjoy today."

"It's very humbling and great that I can, in a small way, be part of helping them [RBL] go and support other veterans," he added.