THE MEDALS of Brighton and Hove's cheekiest war hero will go under the hammer at auction later this month.

Five medals earned by former Hove mayor Bernard Jordan could sell for four figures when they are sold by a Lewes auction house.

The much-loved character, who died in January at the age of 90, gained national attention last year when he went on a solo mission from his Hove care home to attend the D-Day celebrations in Normandy sparking a missing person search.

The sale of the medals is expected to add to RNLI funds following Mr Jordan's generous donation in his joint will with wife Irene, who died just days after her charismatic husband. The couple left £600,000 to the charity.

Auctioneers at Wallis and Wallis in Lewes are expecting lots of interest in the sale of Mr Jordan's medals from the UK and Europe.

The set comprises of the 1939-1945 Star, the Atlantic Star with French and German clasp, the Italy Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal.

Official estimates value the haul at £200 to £300 but the interest and affection for Mr Jordan could push the eventual price to ten times that.

The sale will be held on Tuesday March 17.