Old comrades who fought in the Korean War gathered in Bradford on Saturday - half a century after they served together in conflict.

Korean veterans from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment attended a reception at City Hall hosted by Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Allan Hillary.

Many of the veterans had fought in one of the bloodiest battles in British military history, which helped to end the Korean War.

The 300-year-old Regiment has a strong Yorkshire foundation and several Bradford men took part in the battle of The Hook.

Among those attending Saturday's reunion was Malcolm McGregor, of Low Moor. He arrived in Korea, aged 18, in autumn 1953, with little basic training behind him. Less than a year later he was fighting at The Hook.

"We were on reserve near Seoul. It was a bitter winter then the rainy season. We didn't really know what to expect," he said.

On May 13 the Dukes were dispatched to try and hold The Hook, a hill overlooking the route from North to South Korea.

"It was frightening but we had to do it," said Mr McGregor. "One of the Bradford lads had a premonition the night before that he'd never come back. He never did." The Chinese artillery pumped 20,000 shells in and the main assault came on May 28.

The reserve platoon was ordered into the tunnels and the fighting was fierce. The Chinese tried to dislodge or bury the Dukes by throwing explosives down the tunnels.

Mr McGregor said: "We couldn't move in the trenches and could hear the Chinese running around above. I was lucky - they didn't reach me - but men around me were killed."

Next day a counter-attack cleared the remaining Chinese from the Hook.

Mr McGregor said: "I still remember the lads who travelled with me to Halifax on the truck when we joined up. Some of them never made it back. You never forget."

Also at the reunion was Trevor Dunne, former landlord of The Black Bull in Little Horton. "I was captured by the Chinese and was a prisoner for three months. I felt like I'd fought for both sides!" he said.

Jack Collins, of East Bowling said: "All hell broke loose but it was a question of survival and we were trained to do it."

After the reception the veterans had dinner at the Hilton Hotel, Bradford.