AN ‘heir hunter’ who specialises in tracking down long-lost relatives has been helping to trace the family of a North East war veteran.

Maurice Winspear died this month in a Nunthorpe care home at the age of 98.

Last week, funeral celebrant Sue Dicken appealed for people to go to the funeral of the Second World War veteran after being unable to find any relatives.

After reading the story, Fraser Kinnie, from Hartlepool, who owns HeirHunter UK, decided to step in and see if he could help.

Mr Kinnie, who plans to attend the funeral on Tuesday,  said: “I’ve done a few searches and come up with a family tree. Everybody in his family seems to be long lost.”

“The guy put his life on the line so people like me and you have a better life so I thought it was the least I could do.”

“It’s the right thing to do.”

The 55-year-old, who has previously appeared on the BBC Family Finders programme, added: “I like doing the searches. It’s a challenge. It’s like doing a jigsaw with some of the pieces missing.”

Mr Winspear, who was described by Ms Dicken as “unassuming and humble”, died on May 13.

She has appealed for people to go to his funeral, which will now be attended by the Royal British Legion, because she was concerned there would be no-one else to send him off.

Originally from Whitby, he served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, spending four years on the front line in Italy in the Second World War.

He also served in Syria, Palestine and Egypt and after returning to Teesside worked as a fitter at the United Bus Company before spending the remainder of his career at British Steel.

Mr Winspear’s funeral takes place on Tuesday, May 31 at 2pm at Kirkleatham Crematorium.