A WAR hero was remembered in his home town yesterday, on the 60th anniversary of the legendary mission that claimed his life.

Navigator Tom Tucker Jaye, from Crook, County Durham, was one of the few selected for the secret attack which would later be commemorated in the film The Dambusters.

Yesterday, his cousin and great friend Alf Willoughby, and council dignitaries, laid a wreath in his honour at a service at the war memorial in Crook.

Mr Willoughby said it was a sad day but also a great honour to see his cousin, whom he fondly called "Titch" because of his height, remembered in this way.

He said: "What can I say? I am very proud of him.''

Chairman of Wear Valley District Council Margaret Pinkney laid the wreath in memory of the 20-year-old whose was killed when his plane was shot down over Holland.

After the ceremony, Councillor Olive Brown, leader of Wear Valley District Council, said: "We felt it was a fitting way to pay tribute to him."