MORE than 100 people watched the unveiling of a new-look war memorial inscribed with the names of its war dead in a New Forest town.

About £8,500 was raised to enlarge the previous memorial at Totton and to add the names of more than 160 servicemen killed in the two World Wars.

Rodney Hawkins, vice president of the Totton and Eling Royal British Legion, said: "We are very pleased with it.

"The previous monument was only 8ft high and could not be seen because of the cars in the car park."

The monument was built by the Totton and Eling branch of the Royal British Legion, which lacked the money to fund the inscriptions.

Rodney said: "Since 1985 we have had someone read out the names of all those who should have been on the memorial. But this coming November we will no longer have to do that.

"That was the impetus for raising the money and by raising the monument people can now see it over the cars."

Staff Sgt Stuart O'Hagan from 17 Port and Maritime Regiment meets veterans including Graham Martin, right, after the unveiling of Totton's new-look war memorial.