A series of coins celebrating the life and legacy of Forces Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn have gone on sale today.

The commemorative £2 coins, first unveiled at the start of the year, can be bought from The Royal Mint.

Singer Dame Vera Lynn became a symbol of hope during the Second World War when her radio show and songs brought comfort to millions - particularly young servicemen who found themselves hundreds and thousands of miles from home.

The singer lifted people's spirits at the time with songs including We'll Meet Again and The White Cliffs Of Dover, which earned her a place in the hearts of many, while she went on after the war to campaign tirelessly for many causes including the rights of veterans.

Dame Vera, who was born in East Ham but lived in East Sussex for most of her life, died in June 2020, aged 103.

The £2 coins, which feature the inscription We'll Meet Again as well as a detailed portrait of Dame Vera as she appeared during the height of her fame, will never enter circulation but can instead be purchased from The Royal Mint in a variety of metals and finishes.

Prices range from £10 to more than £1,000 for the keepsakes.

Clare Maclennan, director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint, said: "Dame Vera Lynn's songs were crucial in maintaining morale during the Second World War and it is an honour to celebrate her legacy on a £2 coin."

Other coins set for release this year by The Royal Mint include those being designed to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee and those to celebrate the arrival of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham later this summer.

To purchase coins from The Royal Mint please click here