SECOND World War veterans got together at the weekend to mark the first anniversary of the unveiling of the statue of a hero.

Last year, on June 4, a bronze statue of Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski, was unveiled at the St George Hotel, next to Durham Tees Valley Airport.

PO Mynarski flew from the airport during the Second World War when it was a Canadian base.

He died after battling to save the life of his friend, Pat Brophy, on board their blazing Lancaster bomber over France in June 1944.

After The Northern Echo's Forgotten Hero appeal, which collected more than £76,000, the statue was built by North-East sculptor Keith Maddison.

On Saturday, members of Middleton St George Memorial Association, which includes veterans from the Canadian squadrons based at the airport, commemorated the first anniversary of its unveiling.

A guard of honour was made up of air cadets from Darlington, with a dedication by the Reverend Colin Lingard, the airport chaplain. A flypast of the airport was also made by a Hawk from RAF Leeming. A Canadian maple tree was planted near the statue by the widow of Fred Chatwin, a member of the memorial association who died recently.

Also at the event was commanding office of 419 Tactical Fighter Squadron, from Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Martin.

He was joined by the commanding officer from RAF Leeming, Wing Commander Dave Forster, and Squadron Leader Keith Hildred.

Next week, a campaign is to be launched in PO Mynarski's home town of Winnipeg to erect an identical statue there.

Members of 419 Squadron, the 573 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, which has recently been re-named the Andrew Mynarski Squadron, and other local dignitaries will attend the reception. A similar amount of money, as well as extra money for transportation costs, is required.

Bill Zuk, chairman of the Mynarski Statue project in Winnipeg, said: "Everyone we have approached previously thought it an idea that was very good.

"They would love a statue to come to Canada in the format of a copy."

Mr Maddison said it would be an identical statue, cast in Nairn, Scotland.

He hoped it could be flown out from Mynarski's old base.

He said: "It would be nice to have one of my statues linked to a site by a common analogy."

About $2,000 has so far been raised in Canada towards the costs.

A DVD project, run by Angela Jobson, from the Wartime Memories Project, has collected several hundred pounds.

The two-part DVD set shows the Mynarski story as well as last year's ceremony.

Mrs Jobson hoped to complete a similar DVD for the new statue, which is hoped to be erected between April and September next year while the ground is soft enough.