A BRONZE statue to honour Widnes war hero Flight Sergeant Thomas Mottershead will be based on this photograph.

The First World War pilot, who was awarded the posthumous Victoria Cross for bravery, after landing a plane after it became engulfed in enemy fire saving the life of his observer.

The 24-year-old was commended for his courage at Ypres in January 1917.

The life-size sculpture will be placed in Victoria Park beside the commemorative stone marking 100 years since the Victoria Cross was awarded.

It will be unveiled on April 1 next year, the centenary of the formation of the Royal Air Force.

Thanks to £46,000 funding from WREN and the generosity of the public the appeal is now just £7,000 short of its target.

It will be the second statue in Halton to honour men who fought in conflicts.

A figure commemorating Private ‘Todger’ Jones was unveiled in Runcorn Memorial Gardens on August 3, 2014.

He survived bullets charging across No Man’s Land in 1916. Wounded in the shoulder and knee, Todger killed a German sniper and captured 102 prisoners single handed.

Campaigner Tony Miller, from Sandymoor, who has led the fundraising, said: “It is my intention to have three statues in Halton.

“The third of acting lieutenant Thomas Wilkinson will be in West Bank because Tom was born on Mersey Road.

“That will conclude my dream of three statues of three men who were each awarded the Victoria Cross.

“Let’s make Halton proud of its heroes.”

To donate visit mottersheadstatueappeal.co.uk.