SAS soldier Douglas Swindells has won a permanent place on his home town's military roll of honour.

Cpl Swindells received a posthumous Military Medal for bravery in the field during service in Malaya.

He was killed by a sniper in 1958 while helping to protect oil fields in Oman from terrorists.

His parents were presented with the Military Medal by the Queen Mother, and Cpl Swindells was buried in the Persian Gulf.

The Congleton branch of the Royal British Legion believed Cpl Swindells' name should be added to those on the town's war memorial in Lawton Street.

As a result of its efforts a plaque paid for by Congleton Town Council has been added to the memorial 47 years on from the death of one of the town's military heroes.

Cpl Swindells' brother and sister John and Beryl attended a service at the memorial to mark the addition of the plaque.

"The plaque is official recognition for Douglas in Congleton after 47 years," said John, who lives in Tall Ash Avenue, Congleton.

"We have never seen his grave, and hope to go out to Oman some time."

Beryl Machin lives in Coronation Road, Congleton, and was very pleased with the plaque.

"It is beautiful, and it means we have somewhere to go now to remember our brother," she said.

Cpl Swindells was in the Middlesex Regiment, and was killed at the age of 32.

He has two other brothers, Stuart, who lives in Congleton, and Elmer, from Biddulph.

iross@guardiangrp.co.uk