A woman whose late husband designed war-winning aircraft celebrates her 103rd birthday today.

Nora Smith, who is currently an Airedale Hospital patient, fought for many years for husband Herbert's achievements to be recognised.

She remains passionate about her husband's work and still resents the way he was treated after the Second World War.

The Bradley-born engineer, who was educated at Keighley Grammar School, designed planes including the Sopwith Camel, one of the most successful fighter planes of the First World War.

After studying mechanical engineering at Bradford Technical College he worked for Dean Smith and Grace

Between the wars he was forced to find work in Japan - an ally of Britain at the time - and led the team designing aircraft eventually used against the Allies.

Due to this work, Skipton man Herbert was shunned in his home country until his death in 1977.

Nora began a campaign that almost two decades later led to a plaque being placed in Skipton Town Hall honouring her husband.

She continued to campaign to have Herbert buried in Westminster Abbey alongside the remains of other national heroes.

In 1992, when the plaque was placed in the town hall, Craven councillors praised Herbert's key role in the designing of remarkable aircraft.

Each year engineering students at RAF Cranwell competed for a solid silver trophy in the shape of a Sopwith Camel, and Nora travelled to the college to present the award.

Nora this week told the Keighley News that Herbert had been treated badly by his fellow countrymen.

She says: "He saved his nation twice but they called him a traitor. He designed seven great aeroplanes and an aircraft carrier.

"They called him a traitor when he worked for the Japanese, but they were not our enemies then.

"After the war the Government said they had no work and offered a knighthood instead, which he rightly turned down.

"It is a national scandal that his contribution has not been recognised."

Nora says she will celebrate her birthday today by treating staff on Airedale Hospital's ward 24 to cake and champagne.

She says proudly: "No one will argue with me because I've lived it!"