TWO fire fighters who died as heroes tackling a massive blaze at Hereford's Sun Valley poultry plant are to be commemorated on the 10th anniversary of their deaths.

At 9am on Saturday firefighters at Hereford Fire Station will hold a minute's silence in memory of firefighter David Morris from Hereford and leading firefighter John Davies from Leominster.

Their names will be engraved on a permanent memorial to firefighters who have perished in action across the world. The memorial will be rededicated in a service at St Paul's Cathedral, London, attended by relatives of Mr Davies, Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade, and the Princess Royal, on September 16.

The men were among the first to enter the fire-engulfed Corbett Block on September 6, 1993 and became trapped by roofing brought down in an explosion.

Distraught colleagues braved fierce heat and risked further blasts in attempts to free them.

An inquest into the men's deaths heard the inferno, which generated smoke visible 15 miles away, began in a defrosting machine.

Efforts to tackle the fire in the machine failed and the factory was evacuated. Once the blaze took hold it proved too much for flame retardant ceiling panels and fire spread along a false roof, engulfing the building.

The two men have left a legacy of heroism for their families. Mr Morris, who was 35 and had been a full-time firefighter for 11 years, left children, Ashley, Jamie and wife Julie. The couple, who had celebrated their sixth anniversary two days before his death, were expecting a third child.

Mr Davies, described by colleagues as 'one of the best', left two children, Thomas and Jane and wife, Pat.

Staff at Sun Valley have paid tribute to Mr Morris and Mr Davies. Director Richard Maxfield, said: "We will never forget the bravery of the fire fighters who saved so many lives in the Sun Valley factory fire in September 1993.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them all, especially the friends and family of the men who died so tragically."