ELLESMERE Port is to honour one of its war heroes in a special ceremony to be held exactly 91 years after he died.

Cheshire Regiment soldier Private David Hunt was killed in action in Mesopotamia - now Iraq - on April 21, 1916 aged just 22.

His name is on a memorial in the desert near Basra in southern Iraq and is also in his regiment's official book of remembrance at Chester cathedral.

But there was no mention of Pte Hunt on his hometown's war memorial.

Now the borough council is adding his name alongside those of his fallen comrades on the 1914-1918 remembrance stone plaques.

Nigel Hunt, of Alvanley Road, Ellesmere Port, was researching his family tree when he found out about his great-uncle's military service.

Records show Pte Hunt was born at 6 Pool Street, Ellesmere Port on June 27, 1893 to Charley and Fanny Hunt.

He enlisted in the 8th Battalion the Cheshire Regiment at Birkenhead in 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War. He was killed in action in Mesopotamia and his body was never recovered.

Nigel Hunt contacted Ellesmere Ports town centre manager Lorraine Taylor to see if his great uncle's name could be added to the memorial.

Mrs Taylor said: 'I've been working closely with Mr Hunt and relevant parties to resolve this issue. It has been an honour to help bring this to a satisfactory conclusion with a special ceremony on what will be the 91st anniversary of his death.'

Surviving relatives, civic dignitaries and military representatives will attend a ceremony at 11am on Saturday, April 21 at the town's Civic Square war memorial.

The Rev Gordon McGuinness will lead the service. Local Sea Cadets and Ellesmere Port Silver Band will provide music for hymns.

Former Royal British Legion chairman Ted Roach said: 'Lorraine came to see us some time ago to tell us about Pte Hunt. We all agreed that we needed to put this right.'