Prince Harry has thanked staff at Veterans UK for their "amazing work" as he marked the 25th anniversary of its helpline service.

The 24-hour Blackpool-based helpline provides welfare support for ex-servicemen and women and their families in partnership with charities and support networks and receives hundreds of calls every day.

The Ministry of Defence service also administers pension and compensation schemes for those injured or bereaved through service in the Armed Forces.

Harry met members who have received help from Veterans UK, including widow Jemma Neilson, 29, of Preston, whose husband Darren, 31, was killed four months ago in a tank explosion during a training exercise at Castlemartin, west Wales.

She explained how she had received assistance over her pension entitlement and access to the Armed Forces compensation scheme.

Mrs Neilson and daughter Millie, eight, moved out of military accommodation following the loss of her husband, who had been her childhood sweetheart since the age of 14.