Forces memorial needs volunteers

The memorial was designed by architect Liam O'Connor

Visitor numbers to a national memorial have increased so much an extra 60 volunteers are required.

Since the Armed Forces Memorial opened in October visitors to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire have risen sharply.

In 2006, the arboretum, in Alrewas, had 67,000 visitors. Since the new memorial opened they have had 30,000.

The park has a team of 40 volunteers, working in the shop and gardens, but are looking to increase it to 100.

The memorial, a £6m stone circle, bears the names of 16,000 service personnel who have died since World War II.

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales attended its dedication on 12 October 2007.

There is room for 15,000 more names to be carved on the walls, which are made from Portland stone.