A family is at loggerheads over the sale of a Bradford war hero's Victoria Cross.

Corporal Samuel Meekosha, pictured, won the highest award for bravery after saving the lives of fellow soldiers on the World War One frontline in France.

Now his medal is up for auction at Sotheby's in London and is expected to fetch up to £60,000. But his daughter, Mrs Mary Booth, is infuriated and wants to see it remain in the family or go to a museum.

The VC was given to Mrs Booth's brother Felix Meekosha by their stepmother when Corporal Meekosha died in 1950.

"I can't believe it's up for sale. I'm heartbroken," said Mrs Booth. "I don't think money should be made out of something my father risked his life for - it's immoral.

"I'm his only living next of kin and Felix always said to me if he died before I did he wanted it to come to me and later go to the West Yorkshire Regiment museum in York.

"Felix was given the medal for safe-keeping and it was always intended that he would give it to me."

The 78-year-old added: "It's part of our family history and should remain within the family."

Mrs Booth, who spent her childhood in Bradford and now lives in Swansea, added that her sister-in-law Joan Meekosha, told her about the sale at Felix's funeral.

"When she told me I was gobsmacked. Not only was I in mourning for my brother but I was really distressed to hear that his intentions had changed," added Mrs Booth.

Mrs Meekosha, 83, who lives in Nottingham, said the medal had been left to her daughter Helen in her husband's will.

"We are just carrying out his wishes," she said.

Helen Meekosha, a social work lecturer at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, said: "For personal reasons, his instructions in the will were that I sell the medal. As I live in Australia, I hope that this sale offers the chance for the medal to remain in England.

"My grandfather was clearly an exceptionally brave young man, but like many heroes found life difficult after the first world war."

The 50-year-old added: "One of the legacies that families of war heroes have to deal with is that of living with history. In my father's case, the VC and the constant interest in his father was distressing.

"The existence of the medal had consequences for the family that I believe should remain closed."

Alec Bentley, membership secretary for the Skipton branch of the Royal British Legion, said it 'deeply upset' him to see medals sold.

"A Victoria Cross is a very special medal and the highest award. It stands for valour, bravery and a very special person," he said.

"Medals mean a lot to families and they are priceless. But someone will make money on it and it will go into a private collection and a piece of family, regimental and British history will disappear.

"As far as I know it was the only VC awarded in Meekosha's regiment and it's a shame to see it being sold.

"A VC belongs firstly to the person to whom it was awarded and after that it should go to his regiment or if that no longer exists it should go to his regiment's museum."

Colonel Timothy Vines, curator at the Regimental Museum in York, said the VC would be a welcome addition to their collection.

"It is the sort of thing we would like to see here and would rather see medals like this go to a museum rather than being sold to a private collector," he said.

Corporal Meekosha changed his name by deed poll to Ingham reputedly because he was modest about his brave actions in the World War One.

Serving with the West Yorkshire Regiment, he was 22 when he earned the medal for his brave actions in France in November 1915. He saved at least four lives.

His VC will be auctioned on May 2 along with his birth and death certificates, newspaper cuttings and photographs, and campaign medals of himself and his son Felix.