A LONDON veterans' association is planning a pilgramage to Darwen in honour of a teenage soldier who lost his life in the second World War.

The 95th (Barnet) Branch of the Normandy Veterans' Association hope to travel in October to pay homage to Jack Banks, a 16-year-old soldier who was killed after the D-Day landings in 1944.

Terry Burton, chairman of the North London association, said: "It will take a lot of planning. In the coming weeks I'll be sending packages containing the details of Jack's life to all the councillors in the borough.

"We want Jack to have some kind of memorial in the town because he is a hero from Darwen."

The association will be presenting Jack's medals to his sister, Jean, who now lives in Lytham, St Annes.

Mr Burton said: "We shall be receiving the medals from the Ministry of Defence very soon and it will be a great honour for us to hand them over to Jack's remaining family."