CURIOSITY has resulted in a Saltburn man setting off on a mission to trace the history of those whose names are on the town war memorial.

Studying the war memorial overlooking the Valley Gardens one day, Mr Ian Bedford counted 84 names of those who had gone from the town to fight, and die, in two world wars.

"Imagine, if the 84 had died in one tragic day in Saltburn, it would never have been forgotten," he mused - and then decided to take action.

Mr Bedford, aged 62, who served six years in the army and is now semi-retired from the agricultural trading company he established, has begun researching the names on the memorial with a view to publishing a book with their biographies. "The Commonwealth War Graves Commission which, with the Imperial War Museum, and others I have been contacting through the internet, has told me that others making similar researches and have been told it could take at least two years to fulfil," he told the D&S Times.

"The internet is going to be a big help, but I have made contact with a few people locally which is a start. During the research into the memorial names, I'm hoping to trace others from the town who fell in conflicts since the end of the Second World War. The books could be put in local libraries and some could be put up for sale in Saltburn.

Anyone with information that may help can contact Mr Bedford on 01287 623246 or at 21 Hob Hill Close, Saltburn