ONE of Hereford's greatest heroines Violette Szabo was executed just months before the Second World War ended 60 years ago.

Hundreds of people from as far away as Australia will converge on the county for the fifth annual picnic to commemorate the 23-year-old who operated in occupied Europe.

Among those expected at the event at the Violette Szabo museum, in Wormelow, will be relatives of Lilian Rolfe, another special services heroine who was executed with Violette and another agent Denise Bloch.

Lilian Rolfe was just 30 when she died and some of her family are coming to Herefordshire from the other side of the world.

Denise Bloch was 29 when she died.

Preserving the memory of Violette Szabo who left a young daughter and was posthumously awarded the George Cross, has been a passion for Rosemary Rigby, who has lived in the heroine's former "holiday" home Cartref, for more than 40 years.

Five years ago she opened a museum in Violette's memory and, in 2001, began the picnics on June 26 - the anniversary of the secret agent's death.

"This is a special year and I have a feeling that there will be a lot of people," she said.

"Visitors just bring a picnic, and a chair and we will have an enjoyable afternoon remembering very brave people who made a great sacrifice."

Visitors will be welcome at Cartref for the picnic, at 2pm.