A new ID card to help armed forces veterans gain access to specialist support and services has started to be issued.

From today anyone who has left the military since December last year will automatically be given one of the new cards.

The Ministry of Defence says it will allow them to easily verify their status to the NHS, local authorities and charities.

All other veterans will be able to apply for a new ID card by the end of this year.

Minister for defence people and veterans, Tobias Ellwood, said: 'We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the ex-forces community, and we are working hard to ensure they receive the support they deserve.

'These new cards celebrate the great commitment and dedication of those who have served this country, and I hope they can provide a further link to ex-personnel and the incredible community around them.

'Veterans UK - which manages pensions and compensation payments for the armed forces - local authorities, service charities, NHS and GPs will also benefit from the change, as they will not have to conduct time-consuming checks to identify individual veterans.'