THE Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland has written to the Queen to argue that a war hero be given a national award.

Brenda Forster also further clarified the reasons why Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council decided not to give the Freedom of the Borough honour to Saltburn war hero Eddie Straight.

There has been controversy over the decision not to give the 95-year-old the honour for his exceptional war record which included protected the then future Queen, taking part in the D Day landings and helping liberate the Belsen concentration camp.

More than 1,600 have signed a petition for Mr Straight to be given the Freedom of the Borough and pointed out the Yorkshire Regiment has previously been given the honour.

Yesterday (Wednesday, November 24) The Northern Echo reported that councillors were told not to discuss the issue at a recent cabinet meeting.

However, Cllr Forster, has now issued a statement to explain that the Freedom of the Borough was really a local award. She said: "Mr Straight’s achievements in the Second World War have been outstanding and I believe that he should be recognised with a national award for his service, rather than a local award, which the Freedom of the Borough is.

“We have many veterans from World War II in the borough, as well as other veterans who have served in many other conflicts since then, and it would be impossible to recognise each individual with the Freedom of the Borough award. They should all be recognised at a national level.

“Our local Regiment the Green Howards was awarded Freedom of the Borough back in 1958, which was later reaffirmed in 1976. The freedom rights were transferred to the new Yorkshire Regiment in 2008. This is the council’s way of acknowledging our Armed Forces by presenting the award to the local Regiment, not to individual soldiers who are under orders, as this would be impossible to do....I have written to the Queen to request that she recognises him (Mr Straight) for his achievements."