A BRITISH expatriate's memories of his North-East childhood during the Second World War have prompted him to donate £1,000 to The Northern Echo's Forgotten Hero appeal.

Frank Moses grew up near Billingham, Teesside, and remembers watching Lancaster bombers as they set out from RAF Middleton St George, near Darlington, for raids on enemy territory.

He joined the Merchant Navy at 21 and eventually settled in West St Paul, Canada, which is just north of Winnipeg, home city of Andrew Mynarski.

Pilot Officer Mynarski was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for trying to save the life of a friend, Pat Brophy, on a blazing Lancaster bomber, which flew from RAF Middleton St George.

To mark his bravery, The Northern Echo has launched a £40,000 appeal to have an 8ft bronze statue erected at Teesside International Airport, formerly the air base.

Mr Moses said he decided to pledge £1,000 after his brother, William, who lives in Billingham, told him about the appeal.

"I have fond memories of growing up in the North-East and still read The Northern Echo online," he said. "I talked to my brother and he mentioned the appeal.

"West St Paul is part of Winnipeg and the appeal unites the North-East and here," said the retired 73-year-old.

"Mynarski paid the ultimate price, along with others, and I think the statue is an excellent idea."

Readers of the Winnipeg Free Press newspaper in Canada have also been pledging cash to the statue appeal.

More than 120 people in North America have given money, totalling nearly £4,000.

Captain Brendan Bond, air force historian with the 1st Canadian Air Division, said donations had come from as far afield as Massachusetts, in the US.

"With expected donations from the Wartime Pilots and Observers, and Air Force Heritage Fund, and the additional donations we continue to receive daily, it should not be long before we break the $10,000 mark," he said.

* Cheques should be made payable to The Northern Echo's Forgotten Hero Appeal, and sent to: The Forgotten Hero Appeal, Newsdesk, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF.