A spectacular new exhibit has been presented to the Light Infantry Museum in Winchester.

The 50th Anniversary D-Day Bowl is made of Waterford Crystal and engraved with various D-Day scenes and images.

Kathleen Lambrette (84), of Shirley, Southampton, who donated the commemorative bowl to the museum, inherited it from her cousin, Lily Needs, who died in January at the age of 93.

Speaking after formally handing the bowl over to the museum at a ceremony on Friday, Kathleen said: "My cousin won it in a draw and did not know what to do with it. When she died, my niece's husband thought that the museum would appreciate it.

"I was very pleased to find a good home for it since it had been standing in an empty room and I thought it was such a waste."

Kathleen's niece, Marian Richards, from Harestock, Winchester, went with her aunt to see the unveiling of the museum's latest addition.

She said: "My husband knew the regiment was based in Winchester and asked if they would be interested in the bowl and they snapped it up."

Curator, Major John Spiers, said; "It is a marvellous work of art. I think it is a valuable reminder of the enormous effort made by this whole country for peace in Europe in the last 50 years and of the dedicated efforts by British, American and Allied troops. This is a worthwhile memorial to those troops."

Lieutenant Colonel John Wykeham is regimental secretary of the museum.

He said; "It is a unique work of art, crafted by one of the greatest glass-working companies in the world. It's not only the intrinsic value of it as an artefact, but also what it represents to us as soldiers.

"We hope that placing the bowl in the museum will remind people of what our forebears did and how lucky we are."

Kathleen said she would return to visit the museum with friends.

It is open throughout the year. Normal hours are, Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am-4pm, and Sundays, 12-4pm. From December 26th to January 1st, the museum will be open 12-4pm.