MP for Pendle, Andrew Stephenson, has joined the ranks of those welcoming the Prime Minister’s statement that medals will be awarded to veterans of the Arctic convoys in World War II.

The Arctic convoys were undertaken to keep the supply lines to the Soviet ports of Murmansk and Archangel open in spite of German blockades.

More than 3,000 seamen died in the operation with then Prime Minister Winston Churchill describing it as the ‘worst journey in the world’.

Around 400 convoy veterans remain alive today including some in Pendle.

Mr Stephenson said: “Having written to the Foreign Secretary about this issue, I was delighted to be in the Commons Chamber to hear the Prime Minister announce a medal will be awarded. This is common sense prevailing and we owe a huge debt of gratitude to those who took part in the convoys.”