A VILLAGE has secured a memorial to the men who died fighting for their country.

A stone with a brass plaque has been installed at Quarrington Hill Community Centre to commemorate the sacrifice of servicemen in both world wars and other conflicts.

The memorial, organised by the village's community association, will be officially unveiled at a ceremony in July.

Billy Jones, of the association, said: "We might have been the only village that did not have a war memorial.

"There is a plaque in the workingmen's club but that was only for soldiers who died and were club members.

"It is good that we have got a memorial now. We are getting the youth club involved so that they can learn about the world wars.

"I think the memorial could attract people, particularly people who have left the village and who had relatives who died in the wars.''

Mr Jones praised Clive Lawson, of the association, for his efforts with the project and John Davison - author of the book Durham Men in the Great War - and his wife, Yvonne, for helping with the inscription on the plaque.

Although the memorial does not list the dead, work is taking place to collect names for a new website.