TWO war veterans have received a medal recognising their service in France during the Second World War.

Eric Tipping and Michael Stone received the National Order of the Legion of Honour medals from Monsieur Robert F. Mille from the French Honorary Consul at the Guildhall.

The awards were made to the pair in the presence of the Mayor of Worcester, family members and comrades.

The first award went to Mr Tipping, who was born in Worcester in 1926.

Mr Tipping pretended he was 17-years-old so he could join the services, and went on to become a member of the Worcestershire Regiment as an infantryman.

He was involved in every action of the battalion for the rest of the 1944-1945 campaign in North Western Europe, operating a German sub-machine gun and a German Lugar pistol, both of which he removed from a German soldier he had captured.

He was also part of the British 43rd Wessex division who fought to capture the bridge at the River Seine, near Vernon in August 1944.

After the war Mr Tipping returned to Worcester and worked for the Co-op for another 30 years, before reaching retirement.

Michael Stone was the second recipient.

After moving to Worcester in 1926. he attended Worcester Royal Grammar School until 1939.

In May 1940 he joined the Local Defence Volunteer, later the Home Guard.

At the age of 18 he was invited to join the Royal Artillery, and gained commission in 53 Medium Regiment in September 1941.

After the German defeat in Normandy and the siege of Le Havre, his regiment moved up to Belgium and southern Holland. At Christmas 1944 the Germans attacked through the Ardennes and his regiment was again involved.

He went on to become a pilot for the 652 AOP Squadron RAF.

After the war, in 1955, he became a Major commanding Queen Battery in Malvern for five years.

Mr Tipping was married for 53 years, and moved back to Worcester after his wife's death in 1999.

The Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Roger Knight, who hosted the ceremony, said: "It was an absolute delight and a great honour to see these two heroes receive such a prestigious award from the French consul.

"It was a remarkable event to witness in the Guildhall and one that is unlikely to be repeated."