YORK'S MPs have pledged to intervene to ensure Normandy veterans from the area are finally presented with France's highest honour.

The French government marked the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings in 2014 by announcing that all allied survivors would receive the Legion d'Honneur.

But several veterans from York, some of whom travelled out to Normandy that year, are still waiting for their medals 21 months later.

They include Ken Smith of Wheldrake, who says they are all in their 90s and he fears some may die before they can be presented with their awards.

He told The Press he had written to several key people, including French President Francois Hollande and the British Prime Minister, and he had recently received assurances from 10 Downing Street that they would receive their medals very shortly.

His MP, York Outer's Julian Sturdy, said the delays were 'completely unacceptable, especially given that the medals cannot be awarded posthumously.'

He said: "We should never forget the sacrifices that so many brave men made to keep our country free, and it is right that our veterans who fought for us in our hour of need are properly recognised.

“I have helped several constituents who have had similar issues receiving the medals they deserve, and I will be writing to Ministers at the Ministry of Defence and speaking with colleagues to see how this process can be speeded up.”

York Press:

York MPs Rachael Maskell and Julian Sturdy

York Central MP Rachael Maskell said she was extremely disappointed that veterans were still waiting for their awards.

"The Government say that cases are given priority on the grounds of ill-health or ‘extreme age’ but these veterans are all in their nineties and many of them are extremely frail," she said.

"As soon as it was brought to my attention, I wrote to the Minister. I will continue to press for these veterans to get the award they have been promised. They should not and cannot wait any longer.”

An MoD spokesman said: “We know that everyone involved is doing their utmost to ensure British D-Day veterans get their Legion d’Honneur awards as soon as possible. We are assisting our French colleagues with a new system that has greatly speeded up the process.

“We are aware that as a result of the volume of applications, delays have caused frustration for some veterans and families. The French have already approved 2,400 awards and the majority of the veterans who have already sent their applications to the MoD are expected to receive their medals from the French authorities in the coming months.”