A monument dedicated to American pilots serving in the Second World War is set to be upgraded, weeks after a nearby war memorial was restored to its former glory.

Funding for adding a brick wall to the plinth in Langham, which thanks servicemen based at RAF Boxted for their deeds between 1942 and 1945, has been secured from East Essex Area Forum.

The award will allow work restoring the monument and the war memorial to be completed after more than 12 years of campaigning by the parish council.

The arch-shaped memorial, built to remember those who died fighting in both World Wars, was first built at the entrance to Langham Primary School in 1921, but had become run down over the years and was leaning to one side.

On Remembrance Sunday, more than 150 people turned up to a rededication ceremony, after the arch was rebuilt using funding from Essex County Council and the parish council.

At the same time, the first phase of restoring the American monument was completed, after the plinth was re-clad and lettering and a map of the base was incised into the stone.