AN MP has backed plans to give veterans free travel to wartime commemorations.

Easington MP John Cummings was speaking after Home Secretary David Blunkett unveiled plans to provide free travel documents to help veterans who wished to attend the 60th anniversaries of VE and VJ days next year.

The plan still needs to be approved by MPs in a parliamentary vote but Mr Cummings said he would be backing the proposal.

He said: "The courage and sacrifice of those who fought and worked during World War Two must not be forgotten.

"Their efforts changed the course of history and liberated Europe from Nazi oppression and secured the East from Japanese aggression.

"June 2004 is the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Next year will be the 60th anniversaries of both VE and VJ Day.

" Those who served Britain, whether in the military or on the home front, deserve our thanks.

"After the success of the free passports for veterans' programme for the D-Day landings, I think a free passport is one way in which we can show our gratitude to those who gave so much for our freedom and security and I will be strongly supporting the proposal in Parliament.''

He said the announcement had implications stretching beyond war veterans because the new package would mean that pensioners who were aged over 75 by September this year would be entitled to a free passport, which meant they could take their partners to battlefield commemorations.