A campaign by The Northern Echo to create a statue commemorating the bravery of a Second World War hero has almost doubled its target – resulting in a local school that was hit by arson also receiving a cash boost.

The paper's Forgotten Hero appeal had aimed to raise £40,000 for an 8ft bronze statue of Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski at Teesside International Airport.

Mynarski was a Canadian air gunner who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross after he died trying to save the life of his fellow gunner, Pat Brophy, trapped at the rear of their flak-hit Lancaster Bomber.

But after a £50,000 donation from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the paper's appeal total now stands at more than £76,000, meaning Middleton St George CE Primary School will receive new books and computer and video equipment paid for by the extra cash.

Echo editor Peter Barron said: "The success of this campaign means that the bravery of those who fought for our freedom will be remembered for generations to come.

"Everyone who contributed – both in this country and in North America – should feel very proud of that as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the war."

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