POLISH war hero Tadeusz Poludniak has finally got his medals from the Ministry of Defence after more than half a century of waiting - but only because he is still working at the age of 82.

Mr Poludniak, known as Ted, always believed he was due some Royal Air Force medals from his days as a bomber pilot in the Second World War and yearned to see them alongside the Polish equivalent of the Distinguished Flying Cross which he was awarded in his homeland.

But it was only when his work as a master painter took him to the home of former Army Warrant Officer and MoD official Colin Jackson that the wheels of bureaucracy began to turn for him.

Mr Jackson said Ted told him about his battle to get his medals while he was doing some decorating at his home in Park Avenue South, Harrogate.

Mr Jackson said: "I knew my way about the system and set the wheels in motion. It was nearly nine months before the medals arrived at my home but he was delighted.

"Here is a guy who flew dozens of dangerous missions and survived. It is only right this country gives him his due recognition. It may be more than a bit late but he knows what he did has not been forgotten."

The belated feting of Mr Poludniak does not stop there. On Tuesday, only three days before his 83rd birthday, he will be a guest at RAF Leeming where a tour of the Tornado base will include a formal presentation of his medals - the 1939-45 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star with clasp for sorties over France and Germany, the Defence Medal and the War Medal.

Ted, of St Nicholas Road, Harrogate, has told only a few of his customers of his wartime exploits.

He said: "People know me as a tradesman, but not about my past. Perhaps they will be surprised, but I hope like me they will be delighted that my medals have been awarded at last."

He joined the Polish Air Force for National Service in 1937 and two years later transferred to its bomber command.

After Poland was invaded by Germany he managed to get to Romania where he was interned.

He escaped after five weeks and using a false passport, trekked across Europe via Belgrade and Zagreb before boarding a ship which took him to Marseilles. From there he reached a French air base at Lyons. And when British officers arrived there on a training mission he volunteered to join the RAF.

Ted, who had flown competition gliders before the war, representing Poland against countries which included Germany, then learned how to handle Lancaster, Wellington and Halifax bombers. He took part in more than 60 missions to Germany, France, Belgium and Holland, flying nearly 900 operational hours.

As he reminisced about his exploits he clutched a grubby little doll made from strands of wool.

"I am fortunate to be alive," he said. "This went with me on every mission and was my lucky mascot."