NORTH Yorkshire war veterans will be returning to the scenes of their triumphs and tragedies with the help of lottery funding, it was announced today.

A group of 19 veterans from the Malton-based 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards have been awarded grants by the Heroes Return scheme to travel to Normandy, accompanied by seven spouses and four carers.

The Second World War heroes will attend special ceremonies on the D-Day anniversary at their regimental memorial in the village of Cruelly.

Veteran Dick Eagle, 82, from Hope Street, York, said it would be an emotional trip.

He said: "I have been back a few times, but it is still nostalgic. I have had 60 years extra life than the comrades that died there."

Prince Charles, the regiment's colonel-in-chief, will be present on June 5 at the memorial, which was unveiled in 1992 by the Duchess of Kent, and has been inscribed with all the names of regiment members who fell during the invasion.

Captain Alan Henshall, curator of the Regimental Museum of the Royal Dragoon Guards, in York, who has organised the visit, said the group will visit five villages where the regiment saw action.

Updated: 10:31 Thursday, May 20, 2004