WHEN young Lily and Scarlett Ashton heard their grandfather's much cherished CBE medal had been stolen, they decided to do something about it.

The pair got to work on making replicas to replace the medal stolen from Dr John Ashton's Cumbrian home, and presented their delighted granddad with the replacement 'CBE medals.'

But when the girls subsequently travelled up to his home in Dent for a festive season visit, they were in for a surprise themselves, because they were overjoyed to find Professor Ashton's wife Maggie had arranged for the replicas to be specially framed, and they will now take pride of place on the wall.

Dr Ashton, who said he was "amazed and delighted" by his granddaughters' efforts, was made a CBE for his services to the NHS and is a hugely respected figure in the health industry.

He was North West regional director of public health and regional medical officer from 1993 to 2006 and director of public health and county medical officer for Cumbria from 2006.

Unfortunately, the treasured medal presented to him by The Queen was stolen along with jewellery and other possessions in the burglary in early November.

And though the original medal has not been recovered, the touching efforts of Dr Ashton's granddaughters have at least provided a happy ending of sorts.