THE bravery medal presented to a Burnley war hero has turned up among bric-a-brac 50 years after it was awarded.

Sergeant Roy Fell's British Empire Medal was on sale for £10.

Another veteran, 91-year-old Tom Butchers, found the honour in a second-hand shop in Cheetham Hill, Manchester.

Tom, an ex-SAS man and Royal Lancashire Fusilier who lives near Oldham, bought the medal and is trying to track down Sgt Fell or his family to return it.

He said: "The British Empire Medal was a great honour, and this was presented in the King's birthday honours in 1947."

Tom's niece, Maureen Shiels, secretary of her local old soldiers' group, said: "The medal is inscribed: 'Sgt Roy Fell', Army Number 14361121, Royal Army Medical Corps. For God and the Empire.

"There is a letter with it from the War Office, saying that the reason why it was awarded is confidential - and the letter has a Burnley address, although we haven't been able to trace the owner.

"If Sgt Fell had to sell the medal, we would like to return it to him. No old soldier should have to do that. My father's medals are in the war museum, so no one will ever be able to sell them."

Maureen is asking people with information to ring her on 0161 682 6491.

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