DOZENS of kind-hearted people have so far helped kickstart a fund to build a new memorial to the city's World War One heroes.

People from across the district are being asked to donate money to help fund a new memorial in France to the Bradford Pals killed at the Battle of the Somme.

So far more than £700 has been donated to the Honour the Pals appeal, being run by Bradford Council and the Telegraph & Argus with the support of the Bradford World War One Group.

Donors have also been sending in moving tributes to their relatives who fought and died in the dreadful conflict.

The leader of Bradford Council, Councillor David Green, said he was delighted by the support shown so far.

He said he was particularly pleased to see the number of people making small donations, as the idea of Bradfordians uniting to fund the memorial to their own fallen was at the heart of the appeal.

He said: "The fact we are getting donations from people across the district - and in memory of members of the Pals regiment in their families - I think demonstrates that the sacrifice the Bradford Pals made still resonates with the people of Bradford.

"We have always said we hope that people will be able to donate whatever they can afford, and that this is going to be something that is created by the people of the district in memory of the people who went before.

"I am delighted with the progress and would ask that anybody who can afford to donate anything towards this worthy cause does so, and allows us to commemorate the sacrifice of those Bradfordians who gave their lives at the Battle of the Somme in particular."

An estimated 1,394 Pals ‘went over the top’ on July 1,1916 and 1,017 of them were either killed or injured in that one dreadful day.

The new memorial would hopefully be unveiled on the centenary of the battle, and would also recognise the sacrifice made by all those from the Bradford district who fought and died in the First World War.

Anyone who backs the appeal can also leave messages of dedication to the fallen soldiers by filling out the special section of the Honour The Pals Appeal coupon which is printed with this story.

The messages, to be of a maximum of 50 words, will be uploaded in the special Bradford At War section.