A D-Day veteran was handed a special award to recognise his part in the Normandy landings on their 70th anniversary.

Roy Ticehurst, 90, who lives at the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society, in Woodmansterne Lane, Banstead, was given the Lest We Forget Bradford Exchange Award to honour the contributions and sacrifices made by him and his fellow servicemen on June 6, 1944, during the D-Day Landings.

D-Day was the largest amphibious assault in history and June 6, 1944, was the day Allied forces began the offensive against Germany that ultimately led to the liberation of Europe.

Mr Ticehurst joined the Royal Navy aged 18 in 1942 and was based at HMS Royal Arthur in Skegness where he was a gunner and Morse code operator.

He also spent time as a naval guard in Sri Lanka, protecting members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service.

During the D-Day landings, he laid ramps to help Allied tanks cross the beaches under heavy fire. 

He remembers vividly clearing bodies of fallen comrades killed by mines.

Mr Ticehurst said: "I have both good and bad memories from the war, and being able to commemorate 70 years since D-Day is a very special thing."

In 2003, Mr Ticehurst moved to the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society home, where he has led talks to raise awareness of the war with school children. 

He continues to raise funds for those in the armed forces and for retired seafarers.