Support is rolling in for gallant French postman Laurent Viton, who is trying to organise a memorial to the crew of 408 Squadron - including Luton's Derek Flitton - who were lost without trace near his Normandy home during World War Two.

Now a Luton veteran has stepped up to the fundraising challenge. John Bavister - ex Queen's Gurkha Signals - is trying to drum up donations for the proposed memorial which Laurent, 43, would like to place on the side of the road near where the Lancaster bomber was downed by a German night-fighter in 1944.

Chairman of two Luton ex-service associations, John said: "I don't want to say too much yet but I'm exploring several avenues. I'm delving into how we can help."

He is keen to see the eventual unveiling attended by a strong British contingent. "I'd like to see at least six of our standards go across," he said. "It will be good for the Association, good for France and it might shame a few people here into doing something positive for our war veterans."