DAME Vera Lynn sent a special message of congratulations as four blue plaques to honour Brighton's Second World War secret agents were revealed.

More than 300 people attended the event at Brighton's Corn Exchange, including relatives of the four Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents who were recognised.

Military representatives from Italy and France, where the four worked undercover, were also present as well as veterans and current servicemen and woman.

The four secret agents recognised were Michael Trotobas, Jacqueline Nearne, Ronald Taylor and Edward Zeff.

The event, which is part of week of special talks, was put together by the educational charity The Secret World War Two Learning Network, The Brighton and Hove Commemorative Plaque Panel and the Brighton and Hove Heritage Commission.

The blue plaques were unveiled on stage and will be placed around the city in the new year.

A number of dignitaries spoke at the event including Brian Fitch, honorary alderman of the city, Martyn Cox, chief executive of the Secret World War Two Learning Network and Roger Amerena, chairman of the blue plaque panel.

A special message was also read out from Dame Vera Lynn who was unable to attend.

She said: "It is so important that the enormous contribution made by these Brighton residents is marked with commemorative blue plaques. Please send my best wishes to all those involved."

Author Paul McCue, who has written a book on the four agents, also gave a talk in which he told their stories.

Michael Trotobas, who will have his blue plaque put at his birthplace in 1 North Place, worked undercover with the French Resistance in the Lille area.

He was one of the most successful agents and thus became one of the Gestapo's most wanted.

He was killed in November 1943 in a heroic last stand gun battle after a colleague gave away his location under interrogation.

Ronald Taylor, whose blue plaque will be at Carlton Hill Primary School, close to his now demolished Carlton Street home, served with distinction in Italy with partisan forces.

Jacqueline Nearne, who will be remembered at 32 West Hill Street, was one of the first female agents to be dropped behind enemy lines and worked tirelessly carrying messages between Resistance groups.

Edward Zeff, whose plaque will be at Embassy Court where he lived after the war, worked in Lyon before being betrayed and captured.

As both a Jew and enemy spy, he was particularly badly treated and endured torture at the hands of the Gestapo and in concentration camps.

Remarkably he never cracked and gave away any information about the work of the SOE to his captors.

Dates for the unveiling of the plaques will be given in due course.

For more information about the charity and the events being put on visit secret-ww2.net.