A war veteran who took part in the D-Day landings has finally received his war medals 60 years after leaving the Army.

Charlie Brasher, 93, is now the proud owner of four medals honouring his service during the Second World War thanks to some detective work by his police officer grandson.

Mr Brasher had often talked about his exploits when he served with the Royal Army Service Corps.

He was a driver of an amphibious vehicle developed during the Second World War by the Americans. He helped liberate France and clear up the Nazi concentration camps.

So his grandson PC Gavin Crute, 37, a licensing officer with Brighton and Hove police, decided to investigate getting his grandfather's medals for him.

After checking dates and his Army personnel records with the Ministry of Defence, Mr Crute found he was eligible for at least four medals.

Now Mr Brasher is the proud owner of the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal.

Mr Brasher, from Hove, retired from the Army 60 years ago but was too modest to apply for his medals, despite playing a part in the initial D-Day Landings of June 1944 and then being part of a convoy that advanced through France.

He came under fire as he drove into Normandy.

On one occasion he and his unit were pinned down at the roadside by a German sniper hiding out in the bell tower of a nearby church.

They were saved by the intervention of an Allied tank which dealt with the sniper by blowing up the tower.

Mr Brasher advanced with the Army towards Berlin and took part in the harrowing clear-up of the Nazi concentration camps at Bergen-

Bergen.

He said: "I never applied for any medals because there were far more people who had done more than me.

"When Gavin said he could get me some medals I thought I might as well go along with it as I was there and played a part. "

Charlie sacrificed a lot during the war. He left his wife and three daughters at home in Brighton while he fought for his country, often living under rough conditions as he helped liberate France.

He and Florence have been married more than 70 years and have nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Following his release from the Army in 1945 Charlie worked in Brighton and Hove and spent many years as a painter and decorator.

He could often be seen on Hove promenade painting the railing and shelters in their familiar light turquoise.

Mr Crute said: "Charlie is a great guy and it was only right that he received recognition for what he did during the Second World War. He is very modest but he deserves to have the medals. Our generation has a lot to thank people like Charlie for."