IN an announcement during Armed Forces week - and following the raising of a tribute flag on Monday - Thurrock Council Leader Cllr John Kent has announced the authority is set to modernise and improve the borough's Veterans' Charter, first launched in 2012

Cllr Kent said: "Back in 2012 we created the Thurrock's Veterans' Charter. We must make sure that it is still relevant, so I have asked Cllr Val Morris–Cook, the Cabinet Member responsible for Communities, to carry out a piece of work to breathe new life into the covenant.

"Every one of our air men and women, soldiers and sailors, is also a wife or a husband; a father; a mother; a son or a daughter.

"It is truly a vocation. Nobody chooses a life in our armed services for an easy time and the pressure it places on their families is immense.

"So, it's only right that we also thank all those who support service families - through good times and bad."

Cllr Morris-Cook added: "It has been 12 years since Labour first launched our Veterans Charter. Now is an appropriate time to look at how effective it is, and to make changes, if necessary, to ensure fully reflects of the needs of our veterans and their families

"I'm looking forward to working with veterans' organisations to ensure the assistance we provide to veterans and their families is complementary to the fantastic work they do. I want to ensure our Charter fully supports that work".