HUNDREDS of people attended a poignant service to remember the victims of a suspected IRA bomb which blew up a coach on the M62 near Bradford more than 40 years ago.

On February 4, 1974, eight soldiers and four civilians were killed when a coach carrying servicemen and their families exploded between Hartshead Moor and Chain Bar. The bombing's youngest victims were aged 17.

A memorial garden was created in 2005 to commemorate members of the Army and their families who lost their lives in the suspected IRA bombing.

A service was held today at the Hartshead Moor services, on the westbound M62 between junctions 25 and 26.

Councillor Martyn Bolt, of Mirfield Town Council, who attended the service, said: "There were several hundred people there, everybody from family members of the victims, comrades and serving personnel.

"There were many representatives of the Royal British Legion there.

"The memorial seems to grow year on year. It is testament to the people who started it off.

"I have been to it about four or fives time now and it is a very poignant service.

"I was a schoolboy when it happened.

"I see it as an essential annual service of remembrance that needs to take place."

PC Martin Willis tweeted a picture of the number of wreaths left at the memorial stone.

He wrote: "Lovely to see so many people attend Hartshead Moor Services this morning to remember and to pay their respect."