A D-day veteran was over the moon to be reunited with his stolen war medals - thanks to a football mad youngster.

Mick Crossley, 81, was devastated when he returned from visiting his sick wife in hospital to discover burglars had snatched his cherished medals.

But five weeks later they were discovered by 11-year-old Conor Sagar, who's pictured with Mick.

He found them stashed behind a garage when he rescued a wayward ball during a kickabout with his mates.

Yesterday Conor met Mick to hand over the medals and the war hero told him: "You've made an old man very happy."

Mick, of Haworth Road, said: "Conor has restored my faith in youngsters.

"After the attack it would have been very easy to see young people only as criminals but this has proved me wrong.

"I thought I would never see my medals again and they mean so much to me. I am just glad that Conor has got such a bad shot!"

At the meeting at Mick's home, Conor sat enthralled as the old soldier relayed tales from the war and showed him pictures of the Normandy landings.

Mick also handed over a special cash reward that the youngster intends to spend on a new pair of football boots.

Mick first learned that the medals had been found after Conor made an appeal to find their owner in Tuesday's Telegraph & Argus.

The youngster, a pupil at St Williams Roman Catholic Primary School, said: "I knew the person who owned the medals would want them back.

"But now I know just how important they are to him.

"I am so pleased I met Mick, it was an like being shown a real piece of history."

During the Normandy landings, Mick risked his life aboard a floating fortress providing support to the D-day landing troops.

Serving in the Royal Artillery branch of the Territorial Army, he lost seven friends when the Mulberry Harbour concrete moulded barrier was sunk.

Luckily, although he could not swim, he was rescued from the sea by a trawler.

His most treasured trophy is the long service medal he was awarded for serving with the unit.

As a member of the D-day and Normandy Veterans Association he still regularly wears his medals on special occasions such as Remembrance Sunday.

His wife Sheila, 76, was recovering in hospital after breaking her leg falling awkwardly on the bus when the burglary occurred on February 12.

Along with the medals, items of jewellery, a watch and a video recorder were also taken.

Sheila said: "Mick didn't tell me about the break-in because I was so ill.

"He was devastated to have lost his medals. But I think meeting Conor has really cheered him up.

"It's lovely to think there are honest little chaps like him around."

Conor's mum Josephine, of Bullroyd Avenue, Girlington, said: "He is delighted he got the chance to meet Mick.

"When he found the medals he was worried that an old man would die of a broken heart because he had lost them.

"It is so nice that there has been a happy ending."

PC Dave Burton, of Bradford North police, added: "All credit to young Conor. He is obviously a public spirited young man."