A D-DAY veteran was awarded the prestigious Legion d’Honneur for taking part in the allied assault of occupied France at a memorial service marking its 72nd anniversary.

Frank Diffell, 92, of Ashley Close, Whitley, went to Normandy to revisit some of the battlefields where the pivotal battle of Normandy was held, and paid tribute to the thousands who died.

The Legion d’Honneur, usually solely given to French nationals, was presented to Mr Diffell, who also met Prince Harry in Portsmouth before heading to France.

The prince was making a surprise appearance to greet the 45 veterans at Southwick House, which was General Dwight Eisenhower's advanced headquarters for the landings.

He said: “The day was great. It was unexpected and very exciting to meet the prince. We did not realise that he was coming but he was an extremely nice person.

“He was criticised by one of the men for not wearing a tie, which I thought was a bit unnecessary.

“He had been told not to wear a tie as it was an informal event. We were just happy to see him, it does not exactly happen every day.”

The medal was presented by General Olivier Tramond, Commandeur of the Legion d’Honneur, in the Chateau de Bernaville, Picauville which was originally the German Headquarters on D-Day.

During the ceremony, Mr Diffell bumped into an American veteran, Bert Chandler, who was serving on the same troop ship as him, HMS Empire Anvil.

Mr Diffell, who has two daughters Diane Bouault and Doreen Leech, helped land US troops on Omaha Beach under intense fire on D-Day and in the following days.

“I was called up to the navy in 1943 and left in 1946. It was never a career for me. I was lucky really as my job as a signaller was made redundant after the war so I was demobbed,” added Mr Diffell.

“My father had started a transport business so the rest of my life I spent driving lorries. I really enjoyed driving all my life and if I had to give it up I would be very upset.

“I have also met the Dutch queen many years ago in Holland. I took part in an operation on the Island of Walcheren and I met her during a service in the cathedral.”