A former Spanish child refugee travelled thousands of miles to unveil a memorial to a Sussex town's part in a forgotten conflict.

Maria Teresa Gryalba, now 85, has never forgotten the kindness of English people after escaping starvation and possibly death in her war-torn country.

She flew from Caracas in Venezuela to attend the unveiling of a blue heritage plaque at Beach House in Brighton Road, Worthing, where in 1937 a total of 60 Basque children were housed.

Mrs Gryalba, who was 14 at the time, said: "We stayed here for one month and afterwards went to Penstone House in Lancing. I love English people very much. They were so nice to us."

Her daughter, Maria Teresa Fernandez, said: "She is very grateful to the people of Worthing. She stayed here until 1940 and then joined her parents in Tolouse, France, before going to Venezuela in 1950."

Mrs Gryalba became visibly upset when asked about her experiences during the Spanish Civil War before she fled from General Franco's Fascist forces, backed by Hitler, to England.

She was one of almost 4,000 children packed aboard the overcrowded SS Habana liner, which docked at Southampton 70 years ago.

The plaque, paid for by the Basque Children of 37 Association, states: "In 1937 Beach House provided sanctuary for 60 refugee children from the Basque region of Spain who came to Britain fleeing bombing and starvation after the destruction of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. They were supported and cared for entirely by local volunteers."

Bill Thornycroft, of the Basque Children's Association and also the International Brigades Memorial Trust, was the prime mover in getting the plaque installed, having been assisted by the Worthing Sentinel, the sister paper of The Argus.

He said: "Many people simply know nothing about the Spanish Civil War.

"I wanted to pay tribute to the people of Worthing and district from all walks of life who raised the money, provided the clothes and helped cater for all the children's needs.

"The Government only allowed them to come on the strict understanding that no funding from central Government would be provided."

Mr Thornycroft's brother, Christopher, from Worthing, fought with the International Brigades during the conflict and his sister, Kate, was secretary of the Worthing Committee for Spanish Refugee Children.

Several Worthing men fought against Franco, including Tom Elliott, the secretary of Worthing Labour Party who was killed in action at Jarama, near Madrid, in 1937 aged 29.

His nieces, Veronica Couzins, of Goldsmith Road, Worthing, and Theresa Kerridge, of Sheridan Road, Worthing, were among the 30 people including Deputy Mayor Christine Brown who attended the unveiling.

Mrs Couzins, who was born in 1937, said: "Everybody else is remembered, so why can't the veterans of the civil war be? They were brave and did what they thought was right."

Mrs Kerridge said: "I think it is good idea. It has been a hidden thing for a long time. I believe it was illegal at the time to actually go to Spain and fight. That's why a lot of people don't talk about it."

A memorial plaque to Mr Elliott and other Worthing members of the International Brigades will be unveiled at Worthing Labour Hall in Lyndhurst Road, on Saturday, July 7.

Jim Jump, whose father, James, a former Worthing journalist, was among the volunteers, said: "It is a very emotional moment for me because by mother, Cayetana Lozano-Diaz, was one of the adult helpers at Beach House in 1937, when she was 23."