Chatham cadets will lead a memorial service to 24 youngsters killed in one of Britain’s worst road accidents.

In December of 1951 the Chatham Royal Marine Cadet unit suffered a horrendous tragedy in Dock Road, Chatham, when two dozen young cadets were hit by a bus while marching in column to the dockyard.

Maureen Crombie the unit's secretary, said: "It was an awful tragedy for the cadets, their families and friends, the unit itself and indeed, the bus driver. It was a terrible accident on a dark and foggy night."

Each year, the present cadets hold a short commemorative service at Woodlands Cemetery in Woodlands Road, Gillingham, to remember their predecessors.

This year, the service is being held tomorrow, Sunday December 7, at 11am.

The cadets were part of a 52-strong group marching along Dock Road to a boxing tournament on December 4 when they were hit by the double-decker.

The public is invited to attend the memorial.