THE home city of Second World War hero Andrew Mynarski has thrown its weight behind The Northern Echo's campaign to have a statue erected in his honour.

The 27-year-old airman, from Winnipeg, Canada, was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for trying to save the life of a friend on a blazing Lancaster bomber, which flew from RAF Middleton St George, near Darlington.

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

The statue will face Canada and will depict the hero in full salute - just as Pilot Officer Mynarski saluted his trapped comrade Pat Brophy moments after trying to save his life on a mission over France.

The Winnipeg Free Press newspaper has joined our fundraising drive with a front page story of its own.

It urged readers to send in donations for the appeal and receive a tax rebate in doing so. Gary Doer, the Premier of Canada's Manitoba province, also gave his backing to the campaign.

He said: "I think it's wonderful the community is recognising him over there.

"We will certainly work with the community groups to help. It's a wonderful act of remembrance by the people of northern England and I give them tribute."

On Monday, the Winnipeg Free Press presented a framed copy of The Northern Echo's front page from Friday to the Andrew Mynarski VC School in Winnipeg.

The school houses a collection of memorabilia on the rear gunner. Many other places in Winnipeg, Manitoba and across Canada are named after him.

His niece Joyce Holowaty, a postmistress, said: "It's just wonderful that they will be keeping his memory alive. I'm just so proud of him. But we would trade everything for him to have survived."

Plans for a statue have also been given the thumbs up by honorary colonel Phil Engstad, 62, a retired commanding officer of 419 Squadron in Canada, with which Mynarski once flew.

"It means so much because this is the place he flew from and it was his home at the time and so it is exactly where it should be, " he said.

"The Canadians will be so proud when they find out that this action is being taken."

Don Pearsons, director of Air Force Heritage and History with 1 Canadian Air Division, said it would be a "fantastic" tribute to a Canadian hero from The Northern Echo.

"It is a simple, but tragic story. One man's incredible bravery to try to save the life of his mate. You have made us all proud of the strong and enduring bonds between Britain's and Canada's air forces."