PURFLEET'S Heritage and Military Centre played host today to members of the local Nepalese committee who celebrated their history and that of the Gurkha regiment.

The museum on Centurion way houses a section devoted to Gurkhas and their history and the local community.

Also in attendance were members of the Royal British Legion Bikers, a national organisation of around 5,000 members.

Borough mayor Cllr Sue Shinnock also attended.

Mr Kishor Limbu is one of the event organisers and he told how there are around 400 Nelalese households now in Thurrock, many with close connections to the Gurkas.

He said: "It's been a really good day. We are pleased to come here and share with the people of Thurrock our culture and our history. We have a space inside the centre about the history of the Gurkhas and how we started. Thanks to the people who came to support us, particularly the Mayor and the British Legion bikers."

Mr Limbu also touched on the current, ongoing protest by the Gurkha veterans, who are mounting a hunger strike in Whitehall in a bid to achieve pension payments parity for some Gurkha veterans. You can read more about that issue via this link

Dave Hope from Orsett is a leading figure the RBL Biker movement and he told Nub News: "We have over 5,000 members nationally, our representation today is from Essex and across the South East.

"!We support various events throughout the year and are pleased to support the local Nepalese community and the Gurkhas at their event of the year."

Plans are already afoot to celebrate a similar event next year, this time in April. To keep in touch with events at the centre, visit its web page.