Several men have come forward to say they were teenage members of the Civil Defence Messaging Service in Norwich during the Second World War, after an appeal in the Evening News.

The messengers were the unsung heroes of the war and were normally found cycling around the city's streets conveying information from bombing sites back to the ARP headquarters.

Former messenger Bert Batch, 87, from Wycliffe Road, Norwich, needs to find former mates, as he is trying to reapply for his National Service medal, although none of the men who came forward remember their group having a particular company name.

Peter Redgment, 85, from Longwater Lane, Costessey, was based with Mr Batch at Chapelfield East.

He said: 'I was supposed to be 16, but I was just 14 when I joined. The worst of the raids was over by then. We used to go to Angel Road school every Sunday morning for training. We were more interested in wearing the uniforms than anything else.'

Donald Page, now 88, from Drayton Wood Road, Hellesdon was a messenger with his brother Willie. He said: 'We used to sleep in Chester Place, in case we were needed. I remember the noise from those days.'

Russell Howes, now 88, from Flordon, was a messenger from 1941 to 1943, and Kate Moore said her late husband Jack was also a messenger.

Can you spot yourself in this photograph taken in the Angel Road school playground in 1943? Email david.bale2@archant.co.uk