A ROYAL Navy bomb disposal officer who straddled a giant Second World War bomb for two hours and disabled it using a hand drill has received the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.

Lieutenant Commander Richard Talbot, aged 33, from Malvern, was called when the German bomb was uncovered by workmen at a building site in Plymouth.

After receiving his honour from Fleet Commander Admiral George Zambellas, he said: “I knew that all the hope rested on me at that time. It was a lot of responsibility though.”