Women who worked on the land during the Second World War to keep the country supplied with food and timber can now apply for a commemorative badge recognising their efforts.

The award will honour surviving members of the Women's Land Army (WLA) and the Women's Timber Corps (WTC), who have campaigned for decades to get formal recognition of their contribution to the war effort.

Surviving Land Girls from Sussex welcomed the news that they could now apply for the badge, which recognises the often gruelling work they undertook on the Home Front.

Sissie Collins, 87, volunteered as a Land Girl during the Second World War in her home town of Haywards Heath when she was 22.

Living at her family home in Entswood Road, Haywards Heath, she gave up her job in a greengrocers in the town to travel between farms as an agricultural labourer.

Mrs Collins, who now lives in Maidstone, Kent, said: "I learned how to drive tractors, something I'd never done before, and thrash corn, which was in short supply.

"I did everything and anything people threw at me. Then when one summer or winter was over you would move on to another farm.

"It's about time the girls were commemorated. The country would have gone hungry without them."

Two other Sussex Land Girls, known as Midge and Madge, will also apply for the badge.

Madge Birchmoor, 80, from Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, joined the Land Army in the area when she was 17.

She said: "The official minimum age was 17 and a half but they were so desperate they agreed to take me.

"I worked as a milker on Plaistow Place Farm in Horsham. It became my life. I got up at 5.30am every morning and lived at the farm full time."

Through the Land Army she got to know Murial O'Neil, 82, known as Midge. They worked on nearby farms and are still friends living round the corner from each other.

By 1944 there were 80,000 Land Girls. The group was disbanded in 1950, five years after the end of the Second World War.

Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, said: "It's absolutely right that at last we recognise the selfless effort these women made to support the nation through the dark days of World War I and II.

"This badge is a fitting way to pay tribute to their determination, courage and spirit in the face of adversity."

Application forms are available at www.defra.gov.uk/farm/working/wla/ or call the Defra hotline on 08459 33 55 77.

Badges will not be awarded to spouses of family of deceased members except if the death occurred after December 6 2007.

Are you a Land Girl who will apply for a badge? Tell us your stories by calling Naomi Loomes on 01273 544545. Alternatively leave your stories below.