FAMILY members of a soldier whose First World War diaries were published posthumously have signed copies of the book - with some of the proceeds from sales going to charity.

Copies of From Geordie Land to No Mans Land were signed at Waterstone's, in Darlington, on Friday (November 9), by descendants of the author, George Russell Elder.

Mr Elder, a Geordie, who died in 1980, wrote the memoirs based on his experiences in the trenches.

After being unsuccessful in his efforts to have them published during his lifetime, the book was finally published last year.

More than 1,000 copies have been sold, with 25 per cent of sales being donated to the Army Benevolent Fund.

Claire Thomas, Mr Elder's great grand-daughter, was among the descendants who signed books in Darlington, with an event held later in the day in Durham.

About 70 copies of the book were sold across the two events, with a further signing at Waterstone's Sunderland store, at noon, on Sunday (November 11).