A MEMORIAL stone celebrating the exceptional deeds of 11 war heroes was unveiled in a colourful and poignant ceremony at the weekend.

Hundreds of people attended the Durham Light Infantry Museum, in Durham City, to see the dedication of the sandstone block, bearing the names of 11 men from the regiment who were awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) - the highest honour for valour.

The stone had an honour guard mounted by members of the 68th Foot Re-Enactment Society in their red tunic uniforms, as well as standards from 14 regimental association branches.

Guest of honour was the regiment's sole surviving holder of the Victoria Cross, Captain Richard Annand, 86.

He became the first holder of the honour in the Second World War for rescuing his injured batman in a wheelbarrow under heavy fire, during the retreat to Dunkirk, France, in May 1940.

Speaking after the ceremony, he said: "Every one of the men who served with me deserved a medal.

"When I got mine I considered it a communal award on behalf of all of them, rather than an individual medal."

Also present was Mark Wakenshaw, the grandson of VC winner Adam Wakenshaw who was killed as he twice ignored terrible shell wounds to return to an anti-tank gun in a forlorn bid to repel Germans in Egypt, in 1942.

Mark, who named his son Adam in honour of his grandfather, said: "This is a fitting tribute - today's event draws a line under the past."