FLOWERS have been laid at the Hexham grave of a brave RAF war pilot on the 77th anniversary of his death.

Sgt Harry Barton Annan was part of the crew on board the Halifax HR664, of 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit, which flipped upside down and crashed into a river bank during a training exercise in Bedfordshire, on January 10, 1944. 

Several men lost their lives, including Sgt Barton Annan, who was also a Hexham Courant reporter. 

Darran Mark Walker put out a plea for someone in the area to place some flowers at Sgt Barton Annan's grave, in Hexham Cemetery, after stating that he usually pays his own floral tribute at a river bank near York, every year. 

Local councillor Cath Homer, of both Hexham Town Council and Northumberland County Council, stepped in to fulfil the tribute. 

Coun. Homer said: "I was honoured and deeply moved today to respond to this appeal for help on Hexham Matters.

"Due to covid restrictions no one could travel to put flowers on Sgt Barton Annan's grave."

Mr Walker said he also paid tribute to another of the casualties, Flying Officer John Hubert Williams DFC, and his colleagues. 

Read more in next week's Hexham Courant.