One of the "first soldiers" to liberate France on D-Day was Weston-super-Mare man George Nott, whose daughter lives in Taunton.

George, of the 6th Airborne Division, was just 25 years old when he left for war, becoming part of the glider-borne force that took Pegasus Bridge and liberated the first house, Café Gondrée, during the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6 1944.

Now 80 years on, George's daughter Pam Furner, 84, has shared details of her father's experience of D-Day — which included drinking Champagne with the Gondrée family in their cellar until the early hours, after helping to liberate their home.

Weston Mercury: Pam (centre) with her mother and father, George.Pam (centre) with her mother and father, George. (Image: Pam Furner)

The Battle of Pegasus Bridge left two British soldiers dead and more than a dozen injured. Crucially, the bridge that spans the Caen Canal in Bénouville was the first place to be liberated on D-Day thanks to the Para's approach by parachute at night.

Pam said: "The actor Richard Todd was his [George's] commanding officer. On the bridge that night the sergeant was killed, and my father was promoted. 

"George was one of the first people who liberated the first property in France, a café owned by Mr and Mrs Gondrée. They were all celebrating with champagne at 4am in the cellar, which my father had written about. Mr Gondrée had buried the champagne in the garden to hide it."Weston Mercury: Ex-paratroopers meeting the Gondrée family's daughter, Arlette, who was three when her parent's café was liberated.Ex-paratroopers meeting the Gondrée family's daughter, Arlette, who was three when her parent's café was liberated. (Image: Pam Furner)

Weston Mercury: Pam visited Café Gondrée in 2009 and also met Arlette.Pam visited Café Gondrée in 2009 and also met Arlette. (Image: Pam Furner)

On returning to life in England, George, who worked as a builder and was one of ten children, was willing to talk about his D-Day experience and had reunions with his "pals" from the division.

George, who died in 2002 aged 88, returned to Pegasus Bridge in 2001 with his fellow ex-paratroopers and met the Gondrée family's daughter, Arlette, who was three when her parent's café was liberated.

The soldier wrote in his notes: "They were the first French family to be liberated on D-Day. I was in her house drinking champagne with her mother and father until four in the morning in June 1944 [night of D-Day]."

Weston Mercury: Pam, 84, and her husband Duncan, 85, from Taunton, who have been married 61 years.Pam, 84, and her husband Duncan, 85, from Taunton, who have been married 61 years. (Image: Pam Furner)

Pam, a retired hairdresser, and her husband Duncan, 85, a former policeman for Avon & Somerset, visited Café Gondrée in 2009 and also met Arlette.

Pam said: "We had a drink in the café and it is quite a tourist attraction, with the walls adorned with photos [of the Paras]."

The original iron Pegasus Bridge is now housed at the Memorial Pegasus Museum in Ranville, Normandy. A modern design replaced it in 1994.