CHILDREN paid a moving tribute to a once-forgotten war hero and his comrades at an Armistice Day service yesterday.

Pupils from Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington, who are studying the brave actions of Canadian air gunner Andrew Mynarski, attended the ceremony at Durham Tees Valley Airport.

It is held every November 11 to honour the servicemen and women who were stationed at the airport when it was a Royal Canadian Air Force base during the Second World War.

Pilot Officer Mynarski, 27, set out from the base on a mission over France in 1944, in which he died trying to save the life of his best friend.

The Northern Echo is campaigning to raise £40,000 to have a statue built in his honour at the airport.

Pupils from Middleton St George School, which is backing the appeal, have formed a history club to find out more about Mynarski and the war.

Just before 11am, they laid a wreath on a memorial bearing his photograph outside the St George Hotel, before prayers were read and the Canadian and British national anthems were sung.

Two former members of Mynarski's squadron, Jimmy Amlin and Fred Chatwin, both 81, were standard bearers at the service, organised by Middleton St George Memorial Association, along with Jack Hindmoor, 82, a former Bomber Command navigator.

Josh Giblin, nine, said: "Andy Mynarski was brave, kind and heroic.

"We have learnt how he tried to save his friend and about the bravery of others during the war."

Ambrose Hutchinson, ten, said: "The service is to remember all the soldiers who died in the war. They fought for our country."

Catherine Pollard, the school's deputy headteacher, said: "The story has become real to the children because we are focusing on this incredible story.

"It is lovely to see them here, understanding what this is for and why we must remember."

To make a donation to the statue fund, send a cheque made payable to The Northern Echo's Forgotten Hero Appeal to Newsdesk, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF.