HEROES of the Second World War who did essential and dangerous work back home to support armed forces on the frontline have been honoured.

St John’s School and Sixth Form College, in Bishop Auckland, hosted a tea party to acknowledge the essential contribution of the Aycliffe Angels.

Thousands of ‘Angels’, mainly women, worked round the clock at The Royal Ordnance Factory at Aycliffe from 1941 until 1945 to produce millions of bullets, shells and mines.

As operations at the plant were top secret and because the focus of tributes and education about the war often focus on the forces, Women’s Land Army and Lumber Jills the Aycliffe Angels’ work is often overlooked.

But when they were brought to the attention of Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, Sue Snowdon, during a Remembrance Service she was keen to put that right.

She enlisted the help of St John’s and today (Thursday September 18) students served tea to around 20 surviving Angels who were presented with certificates of appreciation.

Teacher Jaquie Holloway (Correct) said: “It is easy to learn about soldiers at war but it is important to realise what life was like for those back home, particularly women.”

Pupil Ella Arckless, 16, said: “I hadn’t even heard of them before but they were so admirable.”

One Angel, Vera Brown, 90, of Wensleydale, said: “It was hard work and dangerous, women had to work at the factory and keep a home, look after children and get food on the table.

“Yet over all of the years this is about the first time I’ve heard us mentioned and been invited to something like this, I’m very glad of it.”

The event follows a Second World War project at the school in 2009 and 2010, during which pupils worked with a group of Aycliffe Angels, and it is currently working on a First World War project.