A CROSS commemorating those who gave their lives for their country is being cleaned in time for Remembrance Day.

The Green Howards War Memorial, at the top of Frenchgate, in Richmond, will be in pristine condition for the ceremonies on Sunday thanks to the efforts of Richard Percival, of Sadberge, near Darlington.

The regiment commissioned Mr Percival, who runs Kingfisher Ultra Clean, to clear away years of grime and lichen from the Celtic cross.

It was erected in 1921 to commemorate the Green Howards who died in the First World War, and also stands as a memorial to those who died in subsequent conflicts.

The railings around the memorial were recently refurbished with the aid of a grant from the county council, and the Green Howards felt that the cross should also be restored.

Mr Percival used soft-pressure, low-abrasive cleaning techniques to avoid damaging the memorial.