Bishop Auckland’s war memorial in the town’s Market Place is being restored and will have an inscription added to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the Afghanistan conflict.

The new inscription, added with permission from the Ministry of Defence, will read: “2001 – 2014. In remembrance of those who gave their lives in the Afghanistan conflict.”

The engraving will pay particular tribute to Bishop Auckland-born Corporal Lee Brownson of 3rd Battalion, the Rifles who died while on patrol near Sangin in Helmand, Afghanistan in January, 2010.

Custodians, Durham County Council started repairing, restoring and cleaning the memorial this week in advance of Remembrance Sunday. It will also be re-pointed to avoid future water damage and the existing inscriptions will be re-gilded.

The Bishop Auckland war memorial is different from other similar tributes as it lists wars and conflicts rather than naming the fallen. It is believed that this is due to the high numbers of people from Bishop Auckland who were killed during the First World War.

Cllr Neil Foster, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economic regeneration and culture, said: “The special nature of the Bishop Auckland war memorial is testament to the sacrifices made by the people of the town.

“It is fitting that the memorial is not only updated to recognise the service of those who tragically lost their lives in the Afghanistan conflict, but also that the memorial is fully restored so it can continue to act as a fitting tribute to all of those brave men and women of Bishop Auckland through the years.”