TWO North-East police officers gunned down by a pub landlord nearly a century ago are to be remembered in a special service.

PC George Mussell and Sergeant Andrew Barton were killed on duty in 1913 at a North-East pub - a crime which shocked the region and led to the hanging of their killer.

The murderer was John Vickers Amos, licensee of the Sun Inn, Bedlington, Northumberland.

A row broke out after the owner of the pub noticed £45 was missing from the accounts.

After a heated argument, PC Mussell, 32, arrived and Amos produced a shotgun, shooting the officer twice. Sgt Barton, on patrol nearby, heard the gunfire and rushed to the scene and was shot twice. Both officers died from their wounds.

The wife of the pub's new manager was also shot dead by Amos.

The killer fled but was caught nearby and was hanged at Newcastle Jail on July 22, 1913.

The officers were buried in Bedlington Cemetery and a memorial was erected, but over the years has fallen into ruin.

The North Eastern Police History Society is planning to have the stone restored.

A rededication service is being held at the cemetery at 2.30pm on April 13 - the 90th anniversary of the shootings.

Efforts are under way to trace relatives of the two officers.

Two grandsons of Sgt Barton have been found, but no relatives of PC Mussell have yet been traced.

Anyone with information about relatives of either officer is asked to contact Chief Inspector John Lingwood on (01661) 868009.