AN engineer who worked alongside the legendary creator of the wartime bouncing bomb has died in hospital.

Norman Banks, of Yarrow Place, Leyland, worked with Sir Barnes Wallis in Barrow and Coniston, designing and testing parts for the device which was used on the 'Dambusters Raid' on the River Rhine in the Second World War in 1943.

A few days after his 91st birthday, he was taken ill and died on Friday, February 21.

Now his son David, from Longridge, has paid tribute to his father, who despite working on one of the most famous weapons of war, was, he said, always against the need to fight. David, one of three sons, said: "He couldn't say much about what he did with Barnes Wallis. All he would say was that he was a perfect gentleman. They all had to sign the Official Secrets Act, so he didn't let on what he did. Barnes Wallis came up four or five times and they worked on this special part, developing it and trying it out.

"Then they went on to Coniston Water to test the bouncing bomb a couple of times."

Mr Banks, a member of the Royal British Legion, worked in Barrow for about 40 years operating a specialist milling machine.

Mr Banks and his wife Sophia, who had five grandchildren and five great grandchildren, left Barrow in the sixties, to be steward and stewardess of the Parkfield Labour Club, Fulshaw Road, Preston.

His son believes that he left engineering because of his feelings about war. David said: "He wasn't a pacifist but he didn't think they served a purpose."

The funeral takes place today (Thursday) at St John's and St Paul's Church in Earnshaw Bridge.