The Army's top brass stepped in to help a war veteran regain his campaign medals.

George Stokes had lost his medals marking his service in the Middle East, North Africa and Italy.

But to celebrate Mr Stokes's birthday, his family managed to replace the Italy Star, the Africa Star, the 1939-45 Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal.

And the Army was only too willing to help out by presenting Mr Stokes, of Heckmondwike, with his honours.

The war veteran had been told by his family they were taking him out to celebrate his birthday, but he had no idea what was in store.

"They came to me and told me to be ready in the morning because we were going out somewhere. We were coming down the lane and I saw these men in uniform lined up, and I said 'What's going on there?', and we went to have a look and, bingo, there it was!"

His family secretly arranged for replacement medals to be presented to him at a surprise birthday bash at the Brighton Street Working Men's Club in Heckmond-wike.

"I got out of the car and was greeted by the Lieutenant. He presented me with a beret and the replacement medals and I was amazed. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was a fantastic surprise!" he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Graham Whitmore presented Mr Stokes with the medals.

"It was a great pleasure to be able to give him his medals back, and it was wonderful that the family were able to organise this surprise," he said.