An 88-year-old Bexleyheath war veteran is celebrating after being awarded a Russian War medal - 70 years too late.

Arthur Gardner of Faygate Crescent was awarded the Ushakov medal by the Russian government for serving in the Arctic convoys of the Second World War - following a thirty year campaign to life a ban on presenting British soldiers with the medal imposed by the UK government.

Russian Diplomat, Sergy Belyakov, presented the grandfather-of-four with the medal at his home in front of his wife, Hetty, 95, and grandson Colin on December 18.

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Arthur Gardner with his Ushakov medal

Mr Gardner took part in the Russian Convoys, dubbed as "the most dangerous journey in the world" by Winston Churchill.

His task was to escort ships carrying weapons, food and supplies to Russia and he personally had to stand watch while torpedo bombers and submarines tried to attack his destroyer ship.

Supporters of the men who took part in the convoys have been campaigning for more than 30 years to have it recognised, along with those in Bomber Command who dropped bombs over enemy lines.

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Sergy Belyakov presents Mr Gardner with his medal

He said: "I’m as pleased as punch for getting the medal. But we have been trying to get one for years.

"It’s too late now for all the boys that have died. There were thousands of us after the war, but now there’s only a couple hundred.

"It’s about 70 years too late. We should have got one at the end of the war."

Mr Gardner went on six trips in total to Russia in the convoys.

He added: "You were at actions stations a lot of the time and it was bitter cold like you couldn’t believe.

"If you touched metal with your glove off you’d burn the skin off your hand.

"Once you started you didn’t take your coat off for 10 days."