A VILLAGE is to remember its own war hero.

And a Kirklees councillor has played a vital role in organising a permanent tribute to the soldier.

The village of East Bierley, on the Kirklees/Bradford border, will remember its local hero, Sgt Christian Hickey, when an inscription added to its war memorial.

The tribute will be dedicated at noon on Tuesday, March 7.

Sgt Hickey was killed while serving with the 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards in Iraq in October last year.

A contingent of his close colleagues will be travelling from their base in Aldershot to parade through the village and form a guard of honour at the ceremony.

Sgt Hickey was brought up in East Bierley, where his parents still live.

The idea to add his name to the war memorial came from both his family and residents, who approached Clr Andrew Palfreeman.

He organised the inscription, with the support of Kirklees Council, and arranged the dedication.

The service will be conducted by local clergy. It will be attended by family and friends, the Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Margaret Fearnley, Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood and civic guests.