The last letter written by a war hero on the day before he died has been sold at auction for more than £11,000.

Dambusters hero Guy Gibson wrote the note to his secretary Joyce Meade to thank her for helping to type the proofs for his autobiography, and enclosed a gold brooch with the Air Force's wings.

The next day, Gibson was killed at the age of 26 when his Mosquito plane crashed during a night-time sortie over Germany.

Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in leading the 'Dambusters' raids on the Mohne Dam in 1943, one of the best-known operations of the Second World War.

The letter was sold at Battle-based auctioneers Burtsow and Hewett after a bidding battle between two in the room bidders.