A navy veteran has been awarded a bravery medal by the Russian government to recognise his service during the Second World War.

Stuart Huffer, 91, was presented with the Ushakov medal by Russian Embassy representatives at his home in Thundersley.

He served on HMS Chaser, an aircraft carrier used as an escort during the Arctic convoy mission of 1943.

Russia has awarded the Ushakov medal to 3,303 British veterans and presents each award personally with a signed acknowledgement.

Mr Huffer, who worked at Midland Bank in Leigh after his military service, had been invited to collect his award from the Russian Embassy, in Kensington.

He was unable to travel to London, so officials visited him at his home, in The Malyons, instead.

His wife, Helen Huffer, 85, said: “We were very proud and honoured they chose to come to our home to present it.

They were particularly interested in the album of photographs he had from the war days, and some of my husband’s watercolour paintings.

“They are good quality paintings, including two of the Russian convoys.”

Mr Huffer was born and raised in Nottingham and moved to Thundersley with his wife in 1965.

The Russian government has presented roughly half of the medals it has awarded to British veterans.

Elizaveta Vokorina, of the Russian Embassy, who presented the award, said: “Mr Huffer has been awarded the Ushakov medal for his personal bravery and courage displayed during his service in the Arctic convoys.”

Echo:

Between 1941 and 1945, convoys of Allied ships braved the Arctic Ocean to supply arms, ammunition, food and cargo to support the war effort in Soviet Russia.

About 1,400 ships delivered the vital supplies during the course of the war.

Mrs Huffer said: “The conditions were extremely harsh and the danger was immense, but the crews in the photos we have look so happy and really enjoyed the camaraderie.

“Stuart looked back on those days very fondly.”