BIKERS have paid tribute to soldiers from the region who won the highest award for bravery.

Members of the Royal British Legion Riders branch spent two days visiting the birthplaces of 14 soldiers from County Durham, Darlington and Cleveland who won the Victoria Cross for their service.

Branch organiser Andy Bridger, a former soldier from Howden-le-Wear, said: “We want to commemorate the people of Durham who have awarded the Victoria Cross for their courage.

“This award is for the highest bravery in the land so it’s fitting that we get the Royal British Legion riders together to do that.”

The group rode almost 100 miles to visit the birthplaces of 14 winners of the honour, paying tribute to each with a short ceremony.

The event started in Bishop Auckland, where they commemorated Midshipman Basil John Douglas Guy, who was 18 when he was given the award for his actions during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion in Tientsin, China.

They also visited Witton Park, the home of brothers Brigadier General Roland Bradford and Lieutenant George Bradford, who both served and died during the First World War.

The brothers, who along with their siblings Thomas and James were known as “the fighting Bradfords” – one of the most highly decorated family in British military history, between them winning two Victoria Crosses, a Distinguished Service Order and two Military Crosses.

On Saturday stops were also made in Willington for Lieutenant George McKean, Thornley for John Scott Youll, in Seaham for Private Robert Newall and Charles Anderson and in Easington for Fuslier Dennis Donnoni.

On Sunday, bikers attended North Road Cemetery in Darlington to commemorate Private Michael Murphy, Thorntree for Private Tom Dresser and Stockton for Sergeant Edward Cooper and Eston Cemetery for Lieutenant Richard Sandford and Private William Short.

Glenn Stone, Pte Short’s great great nephew, joined them to talk about his ancestor.

They also stopped at the Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough, where CSM Stanley Hollis -the only soldier to receive a Victoria Cross on D-Day – is commemorated.

Mr Bridger is hoping to build up the branch’s membership in the Durham area.

He said: “We hope this will raise awareness. We’ve got so many coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq, it’s not just about soldiers from the First and Second World Wars. It’s about the veterans now that need help and support and to feel like they belong.”