A BRAVE 91-year-old has been awarded the highest decoration in France for his service in the Second World War.

Richard Heseltine was given the Legion D’Honneur for his efforts as a naval engineer during D-Day.

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The former baker was one of the first to land on Juno Beach, one of the five beaches used by the Allies on their invasion of occupied France, when he was 19-years-old.

The former Royal Clitheroe Grammar student worked on a ship which carried several Sherman and Churchill tanks as well as hundreds of men and landed in Normandy.

Mr Heseltine was invited down to the French Embassy in London last year to be presented with the award, but couldn’t make the journey.

His son Ian, 57, then wrote to Bridget Hilton, the mayor of the Ribble Valley, to present him with the award, alongside his wife Elizabeth, 89.

Ian Heseltine said his farther deserved the recognition for his brave and valiant efforts almost 72 years ago.

He said: “I wrote to the Ministry of Defence detailing who my father was and a brief description about what he did on the beaches.

“It was then passed to the French authorities who then awarded him the medal and I am so pleased he has got it.

“I couldn’t be more pleased for him, he’s very happy also.”

Mr Heseltine said: “I cannot say enough to Bridget for awarding me this medal and I will remember this for the rest of my life.

“It’s an honour to receive it, thank you so much.”

The Normandy landings in June 1944 was the largest seaborne invasion in history, and began the liberation of German-occupied north-western Europe from Nazi control, and contributed to the Allied victory on the Western Front.

Speaking of his time at D-Day, Mr Heseltine said: “When I was out on the ships, I was only ever seasick on one day would you believe.

“We never thought about being frightened on the ships, you expected it and it was part of your duty.

Mrs Hilton said: “When I was elected mayor I never thought I would ever be giving such a prestigious medal to such a wonderful, brave man."

“It is the highest honour in France for the people who distinguished themselves through civilian or military service.”