A DISPLAY of 40,000 model soldiers was set up in Braintree to highlight the number of men and women forced to leave the Army through injury.

Help for Heroes brought its Strong Force Model to George Yard Shopping Centre yesterday to raise awareness about the 40,000 soldiers injured in conflicts in the last 20 years. The charity says 10,000 of those have been forced to retire through injury, despite British armed forces not being actively engaged in conflict.

The display in Braintree offered shoppers the chance to make a donation to Help for Heroes and in return receive their own soldier figure.

Special guests were also in attendance, including Braintree resident Herbert Hayward, 86.

Mr Hayward served as a Paratrooper in the Korean War in 1951 when he was hit by shrapnel and a bullet on two different occasions.

He said: “It was really overwhelming to come out of the Army and be faced with sorting out a job, a house and a war pension.

“There was no support at all to help with the transition. That’s the difference today.

“There is some fantastic guidance out there for our veterans. As a volunteer I feel part of the Help for Heroes family.”

As well as looking at the model display shoppers were able to have a go at playing a Paralympic sport called boccia.

Braintree councillor and ex-soldier Wendy Schmitt, who was also in attendance, said: “It’s a pleasure to help this Help for Heroes campaign in Braintree.

“I feel it’s incredibly important to provide support for our injured veterans.”