THE story of the heroism of a Second World War airman - and how his courage was recognised by The Northern Echo's Forgotten Hero appeal - is to be told on DVD.

The Wartime Memories Project has announced the DVD, which charts the campaign to honour Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski, will be launched next Wednesday.

The event will be staged at the St George Hotel, at Durham Tees Valley Airport, where a statue of Mynarski was erected in June.

The unveiling of the bronze figure came as a result of the paper's Forgotten Hero appeal, which set out to raise £40,000, but ultimately realised £76,000.

The DVD film, which will be previewed on the night, follows the project from the initial work carried out by sculptor Keith Maddison, through schoolchildren seeing the work in progress, to its unveiling.

It also tells the dramatic story of how Mynarski battled to save the life of his friend, Pat Brophy, on board their blazing Lancaster bomber on a fateful night in June 1944.

Mynarski died, at the age of 27, but his extraordinary efforts meant his friend and colleague survived.

Mr Brophy's daughters - including Colleen Bacon, who unveiled the airport statue - are interviewed as part of the film.

The DVD also shows how the Mynarski project proved a valuable learning resource for youngsters from Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, which organisers said would offer a reminder of June's emotional ceremony.

Angela Jobson, of the Wartime Memories Project, said: "We hope to get a good turnout and make it an enjoyable evening."

The launch event starts at 7pm.