A Blackburn-born man said he was ‘reduced to tears’ after he finally tracked down his father and uncle’s war medals.

He said his family have been overcome with emotion following the discovery of the medals in Denmark following a search that took him across the UK and Europe.

Sergeant Ch Fazal Dad and Corporal Ch Rehmat Khan were awarded medals, with some dating back to 1939, for their efforts during the Second World War.

All the medals were decorated with King George VI, depicting services dedicated to the British and Indian armed forces and later the Pakistan Army.

Both brothers served in World War Two in the British Army, Royal Bengal Sappers, and Miner's Regiment, representing the Royal Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers which later, after Partition, became the Royal Pakistan Engineers.

Sergeant Fazal Dad came to the UK from Kantrili, in the Jhelum district of Pakistan, in 1957 and settled in the Brookhouse area of Blackburn.

He would, like many first-generation immigrants, go on to work in the town's mills.

His son, who did not wish to be named, said: “It was a very emotional moment to get the full set together, as I had been carrying out the search for many years.

“I had kept my father’s medals for more than 40 years and I have now had them restored and framed for our future generations to enjoy, 84 years since the first honour.

“I hope their legacy and their contributions will live on.”

The medals have been set in special frames and will be presented to the family ahead of Remembrance Sunday.The Blackburn man trawled through social media and the internet and also called on the help of family, friends and the military to track down his ancestors' honours. He has now managed to find most of the medals.

He said: “I had help from General Tim and his staff and the British Army veteran society.

“Amazingly, I managed to track three of my uncle’s medals to a military collector in Denmark who kindly let me have them back - although he charged me a fortune.

“But for me and my family they are priceless. The only starting point I had for this was my father’s army number and the rest was researched by me and the military."

He lost his father in 1982, when he was 11, and has early memories of his uncle who died in the mid 1970s.

The man added: “I can still recall the encounters of the army my father told with great pride and honour today. All of the stories have been rekindled in my imagination.

“Military records show a higher rank but a family incident meant he remained at sergeant.

“The biggest achievement in this was obtaining my uncle’s medals.

“He passed away in 1976, I have very few memories of him however I was told he was a very quiet and reserved gentleman often the less talked about and forgotten in some cases as the other four siblings were characters in their own right.

“Hopefully now his memory will now live on for future generations to reminisce.

“It has been a rollercoaster of emotions lately going through this journey which for me has been a great honour, having lost my father at a young age I never really got the opportunity to make him proud however I hope he is looking down on me today bursting with pride and a beaming smile.

“Sergeant Ch Fazal Dad and Corporal Ch Rehmat Khan I salute your dedication, service and memories.”

The medals will be presented at a family event ahead of Remembrance Sunday so images have not been released at this stage.