AN AIR raid siren, traditional navy rum and original Army uniforms will help transport Basildon veterans back in time.

PC Bret Mercer, of Laindon police, has worked on his patch for 17 years and attended every local Remembrance Sunday service since he came there.

This year, he is hoping to honour former soldiers in a different way.

PC Mercer is staging an exhibition inside a mobile police station, offering veterans a few reminders of their wartime service.

It will include Second World War uniforms borrowed from the Essex Police museum and his own late father's service papers and records.

PC Mercer will also be showing DVDs of wartime footage and offering any veterans who aren't driving a drop of Pussers Navy Rum, donated by manager of the Pints and Litres off-licence, Roy Hudson. Mince pies will be on offer, too.

PC Mercer, who is also a neighbourhood specialist officer for Lee Chapel North, said: "I thought it would be a nice idea to lay on something extra for all the veterans who get together every year for the Laindon Service.

"I am very grateful to Roy Hudson for supporting this. He already does a considerable amount for military charities.

"He is very well known in Laindon for raising money to send parcels to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan."

PC Mercer will also will be sounding a hand-powered air raid siren on Sunday afternoon - so is warning residents not to panic if they hear it.

"I bet it will bring the memories flooding back for local people who lived through the war and appreciate just what an important event the Remem- brance Service is," he said.

The memorial service starts at 3pm on Sunday, at the war memorial near the Laindon Centre shopping, on High Road, Laindon.

Laindon vicar, the Rev Diane Ricketts, will lead the service.

PC Mercer's exhibition, in the mobile police station, will be near to the war memorial from 1pm to 4pm.