A LYME Regis family has said an emotional thank you to the Dutchman who has cared for their brother's grave for more than 60 years.

Members of the Emmett family gathered at the Guildhall last Thursday to see Joep Linders, 71, being presented with the Lyme Regis town plaque by Mayor Barbara Austin, as a special thank you for looking after Lance Corporal Leslie Emmett's grave.

L-Cpl Emmett served with the 7th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment and died aged 20 in battle during the Market Garden campaign in the Arnhem area in October 1944.

Joep Linders was 12 when he adopted L-Cpl Emmett's final resting place in a war cemetery on the outskirts of the village of Mook.

Since then he has cared for the grave on behalf of the Emmett family.

They have kept in contact with Joep over the years but thought that as this year was the 60th anniversary of the end of the war it was time to give him a special gift.

Joep stayed with L-Cpl Leslie Emmett's sister, Winnie Donno, who lives in Lyme with her husband, Mike.

She said: "Today was an emotional day but we were all very proud to see him receive the plaque from the mayor."

After staying in Lyme, Joep headed to Kent to stay with Sylvia Wood, Winnie's eldest sister, who said: "We have always kept in contact with Joep since he started looking after my brother's grave.

"His first visit to England was when he came to visit us when he was 17. We have been out there several times to his home - he is part of our family."

Speaking of their feelings for Joep, the members of the Emmett family said: "He is just like a brother to us."

Joep was overwhelmed by the presentation: "It was very emotional. I will put the plaque on my living room wall.

"I still tend to the grave and I put flowers on the memorial on special occasions."

"I also look after another soldier's grave.

"I saw a man crying beside a resting place and he told me that he had never met his father. I took him home and made him a cup of coffee.

"Ever since that day I have tended his father's grave too."

Joep has a strong bond with the Emmett family and was pleased to see them. He said: "It was wonderful to see my second family."

Mayor Barbara Austin said: "I was very proud to present the plaque to Joep because his story is one of many untold stories of people's experiences during wartime.

"The Emmett family is very proud of him because there are not many people tending to the graves now and they know that their brother's final resting place is being looked after."