A donation of used Metro track will be used to create a memorial to a Sunderland soldier who served in the Far East during the Second World War.

The ten-metre-long track will commemorate World War Two veteran Len Gibson, alongside 60,000 other Allied prisoners who were forced to build the “Death Railway” between Thailand and Myanmar – formerly Burma – between 1942 and 1943.

It will be placed next to the statue of Len – who was captured by Japan – which has stood in South Shields’ North Marine Park since late last year.

Stuart Clarke, infrastructure director at Nexus, said: “We’re delighted to be able to donate used Metro track to support this amazing project.

A donation of used Metro track will be used to create a memorial to British soldiers who served in the Far East during the Second World War.

placeholder image — A donation of used Metro track will be used to create a memorial to British soldiers who served in the Far East during the Second World War.

“The track will form a new feature at the Len Gibson statue, creating a new memorial for Len Gibson and the many thousands of other British soldiers who died in the Far East during World War Two.

“Using the rails is poignant, given that British prisoners of war, including Mr Gibson, were forced to build the “Death Railway” between Thailand and Myanmar from 1942 to 1943.

“By re-using these items in this way, it supports our own commitment to work sustainably in everything that we do, while helping the voluntary sector where we can.”

Local philanthropist Brian Burnie, who founded the cancer charity Daft as a Brush, commissioned the statue of Len to pay tribute to his friend who died aged 101 in 2021.

The new memorial will be placed at the statue of Sunderland World War Two veteran Len Gibson, which stands in South Shields’ North Marine Park.

Brian’s latest project will see the area next to the statue transformed, using rails and sleepers from the Metro system.

Brian has privately funded the tribute to the prisoners of war, many of whom died in the Far East.

He said: “It’s absolutely fantastic that Nexus has been able to donate some used Metro track for the project.

"I’m very grateful for their support. It will be a very moving piece of work

“The memorial we’re going to create will be amazing.

"It will be an extra part of the Len Gibson statue at North Marine Park, representative of all those men who worked on the Burma railway when they were prisoners of war in the Far East.

“They are called the Forgotten Army and I want to redress that issue.

"We’re looking forward to getting started with the next phase of the project.”