Hundreds of war veterans greeted a stinging attack on Prime Minister Gordon Brown with loud applause and cheers.

Harry Joel, president of the London Taxi Benevolent Association for War Disabled, launched his offensive against the Government on the organisation's 60th anniversary outing to Sussex.

Speaking at the Assembly Hall, Worthing, he claimed Mr Brown hadn't told people what he planned to do to help the families of servicemen and women killed in action, or troops maimed, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He hit out just days after three paratroopers, including 22-year-old Private Daniel Gamble, from Uckfield, were blown up by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, bringing to 100 the number of British troops killed in the country.

Mr Joel said: "Mr Brown, will you stand up in Parliament and tell us what you are doing for these people? You haven't told us what support you are giving them."

He said it was all very well pinning medals on the uniforms of men who had lost a limb, but they would have to live with their wounds for the rest of their lives and couldn't take money out of a medal.

His comments drew rapturous applause from the old soldiers, some of them Chelsea Pensioners, proudly displaying rows of polished campaign medals on their chests.

There was a similar reaction to the association's support for gurkha veterans, eight of whom were present, in their fight for a "just and rightful pension" from the Government.

Earlier, Dame Vera Lynn unveiled, by remote control, a 9ft by 6ft painting by artist Rosa Branson, who was also present, to commemorate the 60th anniversary.

The picture, which will be hung in the Town Hall, depicted a collage of numerous scenes including a convoy of taxis with a police escort, troops in action during the Second World War, an aircraft carrier, Spitfire pilots, a portrait of Dame Vera surrounded by veterans, and Chelsea Pensioners strolling on Worthing Pier.

A fleet of around 90 cabs brought 330 veterans to Worthing, where they were joined by residents of the town's Queen Alexandra Hospital-Home for Disabled Ex-servicemen.

The Assembly Hall was decorated with Union flag bunting and red, white and blue balloons and ribbons for the occasion.

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