A FORMER Darwen serviceman has claimed he was repeatedly sent "shoddy goods" after trying to claim a Veterans' Lapel Badge.

James Buckley contacted the Ministry of Defence Veterans' Agency last month to order the badge, which he was entitled to as an ex-serviceman.

But he claimed that when the badge arrived it had two dents in the face and the clasp did not work.

The 69-year-old of Holden Fold, Darwen, served in the Royal Navy from 1954 until 1967 as Leading Radio Electrical Mechanic.

He said: "I contacted the Agency, explained the problem and was told that I could have a replacement. The replacement arrived and it too was dented and the clasp didn't work.

"I received second and third replacements which were also faulty. It was obviously a manufacturing fault.

"A note that accompanied the third replacement badge revealed that the badges were made in China and there was nothing that could be done about the dents.

"Our taxpayer's money should not be spent on shoddy goods.

"It is obvious to me and equally obvious that it is not so to anyone at the Veterans Agency that a batch of lapel badges in stock are defective and to send them out that way is an insult to the veterans." But a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: "James Buckley contacted us to say there was a fault and he was sent a replacement.

"He has received the same badge as around a quarter of a million other people but is the only one who has complained about it.

"We feel it is more the design of the badge he is not happy with."

Bryan Thompson, president of Darwen Royal British Legion, said: "I know people who have got these badges and are really satisfied with them but it is very bad if this gentleman has been sent a faulty one.

"Perhaps they've got down to the last few badges now. When the Ministry of Defence decided to issue these badges, they passed it all over to the British Legion to administer.

"Then it got to the point where only one or two people were applying and it was passed back to the Ministry of Defence so we have nothing to do with the distribution side anymore.

"But if this man is a serving veteran he deserves a decent badge."

Darwen MP Janet Anderson vowed to contact Tom Watson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence, to raise the issue.