A NAVY veteran has been honoured by the Russian embassy for his efforts in the Second World War.

Tommy Frith, of Arnside, has been awarded the Ushakov medal, for his work as an electrical engineer on the Russian Arctic convoys.

From 1943-44, Mr Frith was on board the HMS Bermuda, a ship that delivered food and supplies to Russians who had been blockaded by Germans.

Speaking on Mr Frith's behalf, his son Andrew, said that it had been a 'very frightening' experience for his father.

"It was cold and the weather was really bad," he said. "He is very proud. The medal is in honour for all the poor souls who did not make it."

Mr Frith, who is now 95, received the medal at the Black Dyke Road home, where he lives with his wife Eileen Kate.

The secretary to the Arnside branch of the Royal British Legion, Elaine Willacy, said that it offered 'official recognition' for the work that Mr Frith had done.

"It was the Russian people who said themselves that it was about time that they gave recognition to those who helped them," she said. "Mr Frith was absolutely over the moon. It's a beautiful medal, it really is. It's solid silver and was in a beautiful presentation box."

Andrew said that Winston Churchill famously called the Russian Arctic convoys the 'worst journey in the world'.

Veterans such as Mr Frith had campaigned for a long time to receive a medal that would recognise their unique role in the war effort.

It was in 2012 that the Russian Embassy wrote to surviving veterans to tell them it intended to award the medals - however, The Foreign Office initially did not allow Russia to honour the veterans as it broke the rules on foreign medals.

The Foreign Office then decided to allow an exception to the rules and President Vladimir Putin presented the first medals during his visit to London in June 2013.