A SECOND World War veteran from Darlington has died, aged 76.

Walter Dixon, of Clare Avenue, was flight engineer in a bomber crew which completed seven missions together over Germany towards the end of the war.

Born in Darlington, Mr Dixon moved to London when he was a child before moving back to the town when the war started.

He was unable to join the Royal Navy or the Army because he was in the middle of an engineering apprenticeship.

He was eventually accepted into RAF Bomber Command, because they were losing so many crew, in 1944, at the age of 19.

He joined a crew in the Royal Canadian Air Force's 415 Swordfish Squadron, flying Halifax bombers as the war was nearing its end.

Mr Dixon was demobbed two years after the war ended, after serving in Ceylon.

He then went to work at Shildon Wagon Works, where he stayed for 37 years until it closed in 1984.

In 1991, Mr Dixon and his wife, Mavis, who married almost 50 years ago, travelled to Canada to meet up with his former aircrew again.

Mrs Dixon said: "That was the first time he had seen them since the war ended 46 years earlier and it was quite emotional for them all.

"He had a lovely time there and really enjoyed it and they all kept in touch after that."

Mr Dixon died in Darlington Memorial Hospital on Sunday.

His funeral takes place at Darlington Crematorium on Monday, at 2.15pm.