WHITEHAVEN's deputy lieutenant is calling on military personnel and veterans to get involved in a new exhibition. 

Gerard Richardson is asking anyone who has been involved in the military to provide photos of themselves serving in the forces to be used for a D-Day exhibition, this summer in the town centre. 

He has stressed the importance of acknowledging the significance of the armed forces and the work that they do. 

Mr Richardson said: "In early June we're having an exhibition, primarily the build-up is to June 6 which is the national anniversary of D-Day. 

"As part of the whole exhibition one of the things we want to do, in light of the recent calls by the defence chiefs, is to get people talking about the forces and get them thinking about where we're at as a country in defence. 

"I'd like to get people talking locally, anyone who's currently in the forces or who has served that might have photos of themselves that they'd like to be included to get people talking about the armed forces of today would be more than welcome to take part. 

"One of the things we are doing is inviting the careers team in Carlisle to come down and get involved to have an armed forces careers open day. 

"We want to raise the profile of the armed forces and reserve forces and get a conversation going, I think as a country it's something we need to do. 

"The further we get away from the Second World War there are fewer people that know anybody who've been in the forces, and families have fewer members who served in the military. 

"I think that's one of the things the recruitment teams are struggling with, it used to be a matter of pride but now we talk about them on Remembrance Week. 

"In the recent past when I was at school the armed forces were one of the solid choices for a career as it hadn't been long since World War II."