A PROUD granddaughter took part in a charity zipwire in memory of brave wartime munition workers.

Karen Porter tested her nerves on the 200 metre zip line at ROF59 activity centre in Newton Aycliffe, in honour of her grandmother Hellen Dunbar Dowson.

Ms Porter – alongside other supporters – remembered the 'Aycliffe Angels'.

The group is made up of mostly women workers who made munitions in a huge site of over 1,000 buildings covering 867 acres that now occupies Newton Aycliffe industrial estate.

Ms Porter said: "At the time they didn't get the recognition. So I think it's important that we give recognition to, not just the angels but the men as well. They did get certificates from the Newton Aycliffe Council in 2018, but my nan passed before that."

"She died in 1986 aged 74. One of her friends was injured while working at the factory and lost an eye and some fingers. This goes to show how dangerous it was.”

The zip wire also raised funds to replace a hydrotherapy pool at the Pioneering Care Partnership in Newton Aycliffe.

The pool is open to people of all ages and aids in relieving pain and improving mobility.

Carol Gaskarth, PCP chief executive said: "The organisation is thrilled that ROF 59 would like to help with the fundraising for a new hydrotherapy pool and this is a fabulous way for local people to get involved.

During one of the zip wires a man was injured.

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 11.11am on Saturday, May 11, to an injured patient at the ROF 59.

"We dispatched a double crewed ambulance and transported a male patient with leg injuries to Darlington Memorial Hospital."

The Northern Echo contacted ROF59 but was unable to reach anyone for comment.