A Malvern handyman is urging tradesman in the town to help him restore a bench commemorating a hero who lost his life in the First World War.

Jon Burgess says he will carry out the work on the bench, on the corner of Church Street and Lower Hoswell Road, for free, and while he maybe able to can muster up some of the materials, is hoping other businesses will lend a hand.

Mr Burgess, of Worcester Road, says in return for the sacrifice Canadian soldier Norman Casswell Sayer made in the war, restoring the bench is the least he is owed.

He said: "When I saw the story (in the Malvern Gazette) it struck a chord with me. He didn't need to volunteer and fight for us.

"He gave his life for us, so the least he deserves is to have the bench and plaque restored.

"It would be a shame to see it deteriorate like a lot of other memorials. I only live a few hundred yards away from the bench, and as well as being a commemorative bench, it is also well used so it's worth restoring anyway.

"Having said that, I do need a bit of help in getting materials together. I've got a few contacts I'll be calling on, but any help with materials would be great.

"It would be nice to see the community join together to restore the bench."

Mr Burgess says timber, oak and paint are some of the material that are required.

The bench's plight featured in last week's Malvern Gazette, after a resident of the town, Greg Fester, led the calls for help in restoring it.

A plaque, believed to have been placed on the bench on the 1930s most likely by his mother, pays tribute to the fallen hero.

It reads 'In memory of Norman Casswell Sayer, killed at Vimy Ridge, France, April 10 1917'.

Norman was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, to a farming family, in 1887.

A 1901 Cencus shows the family moved to Wells, Somerset.

For reasons unknown, Norman and his sister Isabella left England for Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1904, as part of Homes for Children scheme.

He became a farmer in Canada.

In 1915 he enlisted for war with the 10th Canadian Mounted Rifles. He was awarded a badge for Good Conduct in January, 1917.

In April 1917, he would be a part of a regiment tasked with capturing Vimy Ridge, France.

It was here he died fighting.

His mother lived at Lower Hoswell Road, Malvern - it is not known when she relocated- in a bungalow, reverting to her maiden name.

Isabella's son, Norman's nephew, was killed in action during the Second World War, while fighting in Italy, in 1944.

Tony Paley, of the Western Front Association Worcestershire and Herefordshire Branch, researched the fallen hero, after spotting the plaque and realising that his grandfather was at the battle of Vimy Ridge too, offering Norman's regiment artillery support.

To contact Jon Burgess call 01684 567 274.