A ROAD on a Wellington housing development has been named after a Second World War hero.

Odette Avenue on Bovis Homes' Monument View honours Special Operations Executive agent Odette Hallowes.

French-born Odette, the first woman to win the George Cross, moved to the South West with her three daughters to escape the Blitz in London.

Her granddaughter Sophie Parker travelled from Surrey for the unveiling ceremony.

Ms Parker said: "It was while living in the Westcountry that Odette inadvertently came to the attention of the British Government.

"They believed her knowledge of France and fluency in the language would make her a strong candidate to join the SOE and she became an agent behind enemy lines, where she completed many duties before she was eventually captured and condemned to death on two counts.

"Her reply was, 'Gentlemen you must take your pick of the counts, I can only die once.’

“Odette endured 14 brutal interrogations and torture for information on her work and her fellow agents, but she refused to say anything.

"Her silence saved those agents’ lives and enabled them to carry on their vital work.

"She was often denied food and spent almost two years in solitary confinement, longing to be with her daughters and undoubtedly yearning for the freedom of her beloved Westcountry, until the war finally ended and she was released.”

The campaign to name the road after Odette, who also earned the MBE and was a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, was spearheaded by Cllr Nancy Powell-Brace, owner of Odette’s Tearooms in Wellington, after she learnt about her bravery through a local opera, which her brother Nick Brace wrote.

Cllr Powell-Brace said: "It has been an honour and a privilege to play some small part in keeping the incredible story of Odette Hallowes alive and, on many, many occasions tell her story anew to both local people and those travelling through our wonderful town."

Local historian Amyas Crump has taken Sophie’s family on tours to see first-hand the places where Odette lived, shopped and walked.

She said: "For Odette and her three children, the Blackdown Hills became a haven after enduring the the London Blitz.

"The value they placed on the beauty of these hills and the friendship of the local people played a key role in Odette agreeing to join SOE, despite knowing the extraordinarily high risks of capture and death."

Wellington Mayor Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “I am very pleased to see Odette remembered by way of having a road named after her."

Thomas Jupp, site manager at Monument View, said: “I feel proud to come to site each day knowing that Odette's bravery will be remembered for years to come.”