A PIT village has put up a memorial to its First World War hero who lost his life after winning the highest honour for gallantry.

The Lord Lieutenant of Durham, Sir Paul Nicholson, unveiled the tribute to Victoria Cross winner 2nd Lieutenant John Youll at Thornley, County Durham.

The ceremony, at the weekend, also saw the dedication of plaques listing 22 more of the village's war dead whose names had not previously been included on the village's war memorial.

The memorial and the new plaques cost about £12,000 and were paid for by the parish council and the New Thornley Partnership.

The missing names and the story of 2nd Lt Youll were researched by local historians Owen Rowland and Fred Bromilow.

John Youll was born in June 1867 and, after going to school in the village, became an apprentice electrician in the power station at the village's colliery.

In July 1916, he volunteered to serve in the Royal Engineers (Durham Territorials) and was mentioned in dispatches for his gallant work while serving at Polygon Wood, in France.

He was recommended for a commission and was awarded a VC for his gallantry on the Assiago Plateau Italy. He also received that country's highest honour, the Italian Silver Medal for Valour.

Mr Rowland said: "The citation says the honour was conferred for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during enemy attack. When in command of a patrol that came under hostile barrage, sending his men to safety, he remained to observe the situation.

"Through the fighting his complete disregard to personal safety and very gallant leading set a magnificent example to all."

Aged 21 while fighting with the 11th Battalion the Northumberland Fusiliers, he was killed in the Battle of Vittorio Vento, in Italy, on October 27, 1918.

Mr Rowland said there was an old people's centre in the village named after the hero but now his bravery had been truly recognised.

The granite memorial, which features an etched picture of 2nd Lt Youll, is next to the existing war memorial in Hartlepool Road.

Mr Rowland and Mr Bromilow are members of the Wheatley Hill History Club, which is publishing a book based on their five-year research into the war dead of Thornley and neighbouring villages.

Greg Wharier, of the New Thornley Partnership, said improvements had also been made to the existing war memorial. He praised the generosity of people who donated to the project and Mr Rowland and Mr Bromilow.