THEY milked cows, stacked hay, sprayed crops, drove tractors and helped establish an equality between men and women.

The ladies who dedicated their lives to helping out during the second world war have finally been honoured for their efforts.

Former Land Army women reminisced at a special ceremony organised by the district council where they were awarded with medals for their work carried out more than 60 years ago.

And there were many stories to tell in the village hall in Theydon Bois.

Marjorie Bird, 82 from Loughton spent four and a half years working on a farm in Barfields.

She said: "At first there were 80 girls and I came along and thought I would never get used to it but I did, and I had a great time, one good laugh after another.

"You were given dungarees and black boots which gave me awful blisters.

"We did everything that needed doing while the men were away fighting. We even had the trees chopped down. The Forestry Commission came and took away the logs and left the greenery and we had to go and set fire to it and then all the water tasted of smoke.

"We went back to the hostel for dinner and then we heard the fire brigade. We learnt a lot through our mistakes."

Working in the Land Army changed the life of Lilian Griffiths, 83 from Theydon Bois, when she met her husband.

She said: "I was working on his brother's farm and he was abroad working for the Palestine Police. When he came back we just took to each other. I enjoyed it so much but meeting Arthur was the best thing."

Florence Harrison, 86 from Theydon Bois followed in the footsteps of her mother who was in the Land Army during the first world war.

She said: "I went out on my break one lunch time when I was working in an office and I saw all the banners for the Land Army and I thought that's for me. It was quite spur of the moment.

"I was 17 so I had to stay in my own town until I turned 18. I'm very proud to be given this medal, although I didn't think about what I was doing a the time. We just got on with it and had a thoroughly enjoyable time."