An 81-year old blind war veteran has completed a parachute jump to remember his comrades who were killed during the Second World War.

Raymond Sheriff, who lives in Rottingdean, Brighton, revisited Arnhem in The Netherlands, where thousands of his comrades died in 1944, to complete the jump.

Less than half the Red Berets who parachuted into the Dutch town on September 17, 1944, returned to the UK.

To remember those who died, Mr Sheriff jumped 10,000ft from a plane, in tandem with a parachute instructor.

More than 5,000 people were waiting on the ground for Mr Sheriff and six other veterans who also made the jump.

Mr Sheriff said: "I enjoyed myself jumping and wasn't scared. I had the most perfect landing ever, which is amazing.

"When I got to the ground there were thousands of people cheering and I was kissed by quite a few ladies. It was a bit overwhelming."

It was 13th year running he has jumped.

Mr Sheriff nearly did not get to Arnhem at all. His wife Betty was due to drive him but was given doctor's orders not to go three days before because of a heart condition.

Mr Sheriff's friend stepped forward to drive but did not have a passport. He managed to get one the day before the jump and drove Mr Sheriff to The Netherlands.

On the way the pair got lost on the M25 and missed their ferry. They caught the next boat but then got lost in The Netherlands.

Mr Sheriff was pleased to finally make it and the service at Airborne Ceremony in Oosterbeek, held after the jump, was moving.

He said: "The Dutch schoolchildren put posies on the graves. Mothers wanted me to sign their childrens' flags. It was emotional. I was close to tears."