Oh I do lick to be beside the seaside say WW2 heroes - combined age 604

As temperatures rocket veterans cool off with an ice cream by the seaside.

Their trip to sunbathed Worthing was put on as a thank you for their service and sacrifice in the year Britain marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

Some 60 warriors, including those from the 1939-1945 conflict, were joined by heroes from campaigns in Korea, Burma, the Far East, Falklands and Afghanistan, in a gathering of greatness by the coast.

They arrived in a cavalcade of black cabs for a grand day out organised by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans and were greeted by rapturous applause.

Among the bravehearts soaking up the sun - and adulation - were Bletchley Park heroine Dot Martin, 104, RAF bomber pilot George Dunn, 102, Wren Dorothea Barron and D-Day soldier Mervyn Kersh, both 100, Royal Navy signalman Henry Rice, and RAF radio and radar mechanic Gilbert Clarke, both 99.

As temperatures soared above 30C [86F] the sensational sextet - combined age 604 - were treated to a 99 with a flake on Worthing Pier courtesy of the Daily Express.

Signaller Dorothea joined the Women's Royal Naval Service in 1943 and taught semaphore to soldiers ahead of the D-Day landings.

She was mobbed by well-wishers at the shindig, and beamed: "It's so lovely to be among friends and, of course, to be beside the seaside. It's wonderful.

"I used to come here as a little girl and loved going into the sea. I have fond memories of time spent with my family down on the coast."

She joked: "You have to reach 100 before anyone notices. After the war we were given coupons for food and told to get on with it. Now I seem to be a celebrity."

Last month some of the men and women enjoying sunshine on the promenade were among those remembering fallen chums in Normandy on the 81st anniversary of D-Day.

They were treated to a slap up fish and chips lunch before an afternoon of fun and laughter at the West Sussex resort's famous Pavilion Theatre venue.

Signalman Harry, who served on landing ship HMS Eastway ferrying men and equipment to the invasion beaches, said: "Of course, we must never forget the sacrifice of so many.

"But all the boys and girls are very nice people and I am so very happy in their company. It's so lovely to get together and eat, drink and share a laugh or two."

The Taxi Charity, formed in 1948, is run by volunteer London black taxi drivers and is wholly reliant on donations, grants and sponsorship to take heroes back to battlefields and social events in the UK.

Vice President Dick Goodwin said: "It has changed lives and given so many of these extraordinary men and women such wonderful experiences.

"The day was a great success and I pay tribute not only to our veterans, but also the London taxi drivers who give up so much of their time to support them."