£4.9m raised for memorial to Bomber Command heroes

A memorial to honour the 55,000 airmen of Bomber Command who died during the Second World War will go ahead thanks to donations from around the world.

Campaign organisers were given a deadline of yesterday to raise £4.9 million before council bosses would allow building work to start in Green Park.

Donations came in from Australia, Holland and New Zealand, and the Polish Air Force Association contributed £40,000.

Planning permission was granted in May after a campaign by the RAF Bomber Command Association.