THE '£100,000 For 100 Years' appeal to help the rehabilitation of injured soldiers was boosted yesterday (Sunday) by the publication of a Remembrance Sunday special edition of The Northern Echo.

Thousands of copies of the unique issue were sold by retailers across the North-East and North Yorkshire.

Ten per cent of the proceeds from the special edition will go to the appeal which is raising money for the Help for Heroes Phoenix House rehabilitation centre at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

The funds will be used to help create a performing arts facility at Phoenix House, adding a new dimension to the types of care and therapy available at the centre.

The Sunday edition features stunning artwork on the front and back pages by acclaimed North-East artist Mackenzie Thorpe, with the originals to be sold at auction in aid of the appeal.

Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, said the special issue was a demonstration of the newspaper's determination to mark the centenary in the right way.

He added: "The aim was to come up with something special to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of The Great War and I am delighted that the Remembrance Sunday edition has been so well received.

"A huge amount of planning and hard work went into the edition, not least by Mackenzie Thorpe, and I believe the result is in the finest traditions of The Northern Echo."

It is hoped the Remembrance Sunday Echo will become a unique keepsake which will be passed down through future generations.

As well as accounts of how the North-East is marking the centenary and commemorating those who lost their lives in the First World War, the edition includes a collection of historic front pages showing how the Echo reported the seismic events which took between 1914 and 1918.

- IF you didn’t get your copy of the special Sunday edition of The Northern Echo, it is still available from most retailers or you can call our back copy team to order and pay for one on 01274-705248. All copies are £1, plus £1 postage.