A FORMER firefighter has been reunited with his treasured medals after they were lost earlier this year.

Bernard Johnstone, 76, treasured his collection consisting of a France and Germany Star, a fire service long service and good conduct medal, Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal and war medal.

But he had decided the time had come to hand them over for safe-keeping to his son, Andrew, who now lives in Oakland, San Francisco, and was spending a holiday here during April and May.

Mr Johnstone, of Dill Hall Lane, Church, said: "I thought that now was the time to give him the medals to look after, because you never know what might happen. So he packed them away and left for his flight.

"He realised straight away when he got there that he had lost his Blackburn Rovers shirt but the first I knew about the medals was when I received a telephone call from the airport."

Staff at Manchester Airport found the medals on the baggage system.

Janet Senior, terminal duty manager at Manchester Airport, said: "When we found the medals, we obviously realised that they would have great sentimental value, therefore we were very keen to trace Mr Johnstone, or anyone who may know him.

"It was not an easy task as we did not have much information. However, I was delighted when we did manage to find Bernard and it's great news that they are now back with their rightful owner."

The pensioner's name was on his fire service medal and airport staff started calling fire services to track him down.

Airport staff planned on holding a reunion in Manchester, but Mr Johnstone has suffered with jaundice and asthma so was unable to make the trip.

Instead, a silver Mercedes was ordered to transport him and his partner, Florence Towler, 68, to Accrington fire station, where Mrs Senior made the presentation.

Mr Johnstone, who served with the station between 1949 and 1978, said: "I had got more sentimental about the medals as time went on and had become very upset when I realised they had gone missing. It was marvellous to get them back -- and to return to the fire station after all this time."

"The reason I always wanted to be a firefighter was because I saw them as heroes. Going back for this proved that although the faces are different they are still a good set of lads with the same spirit."

Mick Holmes, Assistant Divisional Officer, said: "We are really impressed that the staff at Manchester Airport went to so much effort to locate and return the medals to Mr Johnstone.

"We felt very privileged and honoured to be able to help host his visit and I'm sure that spending time at the fire station brought back some very memorable times for Bernard."