AN ARNHEM veteran from Gwent has been forced to pull out of a charity parachute jump - because of failing eyesight.

Since 1994 the Arnhem Veterans parachute team had relived the famous events of September, 1944 when Red Berets of the Parachute Regiment parachuted into Arnhem.

One of these was 79-year-old Gus Woods of Riverside, Monmouth who was 22 at the time of the wartime mission.

But with the anniversary looming once more he has taken the difficult decision not to jump.

He said: "I've taken part in the veterans' parachute jump every year since 1994 but last year I found myself heading for a lot of trees.

"I no longer drive because of failing eyesight so I decided not to take part this year because of that."

This year will probably be the last parachute tribute to the abortive mission - immortalised in the film A Bridge Too Far - because the 10 veterans are depleted by age and illness.

Those taking part this year are seeking sponsorship to raise money for the children's charity Barnardo's.

The aim of the mission in 1944 was to take out the bridge, cutting off the enemy supply line and shortening the war, but the German forces met the incoming troops with heavy resistance and 1,000 men were killed soon after landing, and another 6,000 taken prisoner.

Mr Woods told the Argus of his memories of the mission codenamed Operation Market Garden.

"I didn't go over with the squadron because I was a jeep driver and had a jeep and trailer in a glider. We were one of the first to land.

"By the time I had the jeep and trailer out of the glider the squadron had jumped. I joined up with them straight away and we moved towards Arnhem.

"My troop was told to go down and take the explosives off before it got dark, but there were sten guns and machine guns on the bridge so we didn't get any further than that."

But he and other members of his troop were soon captured by the Germans and put in a prison camp where there was an enormous synthetic petroleum refinery.

He remained a prisoner of war until 1945, when he and two other colleagues successfully escaped after two earlier failed bids for freedom, and made their way back to Britain.