A FOREIGN cemetery containing the graves of British war heroes has been restored thanks to the efforts of a North-East veteran.

The work to Sharjah Cemetery, in the United Arab Emirates, has been carried out following a year-long campaign by Frank Wright, a former County Durham miner and RAF officer.

Mr Wright visited the cemetery last year to pay his respects to a former comrade who died in a road accident while the pair were stationed at RAF Sharjah.

He arrived with his wife, Gloria, to find the cemetery had fallen into disrepair, with many of the gravestones weathered and their inscriptions illegible.

When he returned to Britain, Mr Wright set about finding the organisation responsible for the cemetery.

He said: “The cemetery had been neglected for about 30 years – a total disgrace.”

After writing numerous letters and speaking to several MPs, the 75-year-old, who is originally from West Cornforth, County Durham, but who now lives in West Sussex, secured a commitment from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which said it was responsible for 12 graves in the military area of the cemetery.

These graves, including that of Mr Wright’s former colleague Aircraftman Ian Clephane, have now been restored.

Mr Wright said: “The cemetery has at long last been cleaned up and the headstones replaced.

“It is now a cemetery fit for fallen servicemen.”

Last month, military and embassy officials and a detachment of Air Force men gathered at the cemetery for a service to honour the dead.

A bugler played the Last Post, and two minutes of silence were held before crosses were placed on each grave.

The War Graves Commission has told Mr Wright that the military attache based at the British embassy in Dubai will make regular inspections and lay a wreath at the cemetery.

The only outstanding issue is the grave of a Captain HM Brammall, He died outside of service, meaning that despite him being presented with the Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Service Cross, the MoD will not pay for the upkeep of his grave.

Instead, officials said the former Royal Navy officer’s family must arrange for the grave’s restoration.

To date, Mr Wright has not managed to trace any of his descendants.