HILLINGDON has become the first borough in London to create a dedicated burial site for the Gurkha Nepalese community.

Some land near the Peace Memorial Garden in Cherry Lane Cemetery, West Drayton, has been set aside and work there is set to begin soon. There will also be an area for column burial units, which will house ashes.

A formal ceremony marking the end of the works will take place later in the year.

Council leader Ray Puddifoot said: "Hillingdon Council is commemorating 100 years since the start of World War One and, with more than 200,000 Gurkhas having served in the British Army over two world wars, this is one way for the borough to acknowledge the contribution and sacrifices that Gurkhas have made to this country."

In 2009, all retired Gurkhas won the right to live in the UK, following a campaign led by actress Joanna Lumley, whose father served with the 6th Gurkha Rifles.