THE widow of a North-East war hero has officially opened a £2m information centre dedicated to the memory of her VC-winning husband.

Shirley Annand, the 91-year-old wife of the late Captain Richard Annand, visited Meadowfield, Durham City, to open the new site.

Annand House, next to the Meadowfield Sports Centre, is the third of Durham City Council's Information Centres - where residents can get advice and information on tax, benefits and council services.

The building will also house Durham Police's new section office and suite for vulnerable witnesses. It will be a base for Durham and Chester-le-Street Intermediate Care Team, which includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing and social work services.

The name of the building was the overwhelming choice of residents, in honour of the life of Capt Annand, who died on Christmas Eve.

The hero, who was awarded the first VC of the Second World War after rescuing a wounded comrade under heavy fire during the retreat to Dunkirk in 1940, lived in Durham City after the war, where he became the Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Durham and worked tirelessly for charities, especially bodies for ex-servicemen and the hard of hearing.

Unveiling the plaque, Mrs Annand said: "Dick would have been so thrilled that so many people wanted to call this great building by his name.

"Dick had endless patience and endless compassion for people who were disadvantaged, especially the physically handicapped and hard of hearing.

"The people who will work in this building will be coming into touch with people who are confused, elderly or hard of hearing, and I know how frustrating and difficult it can be, but I hope they will remember that and treat them with as much compassion and understanding as Dick would have done when he was alive."

She was joined at the opening by mayor and family friend Councillor Mary Hawgood and council leader Councillor Fraser Reynolds.