A VISIT to Russia to mark VE Day was an amazing experience, a Second World War veteran said this week.

Hilton Birtles served as a young Royal Navy navigation officer on the Arctic convoys, transporting vital supplies to the Soviet Union which was locked in mortal combat with Nazi Germany.

Now a retired Unitarian minister living in Colwall, Rev Birtles this month travelled to Russia as the guest of the government, along with some 300 other veterans.

Accompanying the party as it visited St Petersburg and Murmansk was HRH Prince Andrew and First Sea Lord Sir Alan West.

"The prince was fabulous," said Mr Birtles. "He was in the Navy himself and he stayed with us and talked to us."

But Mr Birtles reserves his greatest praise for the Russians he met, who were effusively grateful for what he and his comrades did all those years ago.

"It's quite impossible to convey the warmth, the love and the generosity with which we were received," he said.

The veterans were literally hugged and kissed in the streets by strangers, and were given countless gifts.

A young man who looked to Mr Birtles as though he was deathly ill, pressed on him a beautifully-illustrated book on places associated with famous Russian writers. The veterans visited schools and museums, laid wreaths for fallen Britons and Russians and took part in a huge parade through Murmansk.

"We were made so welcome," said Mr Birtles. "Everyone wanted to express their gratitude.

"This was all the more amazing as, because until the end of Communism, Russians were more or less taught that the Soviet Union won the war with no outside assistance."

One thing that the British veterans agreed on was that Tony Blair let the country down by not flying to Moscow like the other world leaders.

Mr Birtles said: "We watched the Moscow TV news. There was Putin, Bush, the leaders of Germany, France, Russia, China, Japan and all the other nations. And then there was John Prescott, 61st out of 62, and he hadn't bothered to pick up a red carnation to lay in respect.

"We were incensed. One chap, an observer in a Swordfish (aircraft) sent an e-mail straight to the Times."

The veterans are also angry that the British government has vetoed a proposal by the Russian's to award them a medal.

Mr Birtles said: "It's like giving the Russian government a slap with a wet fish, diplomatically speaking."