A LEOMINSTER man who was present at the surrender of Hong Kong has been recognised for the role he played in the liberation of France.

Trevor Robinson, 91, was 18 when he joined the Royal Navy and was part of a small unit involved in the removal of obstacles from the Normandy beaches on D-Day.

He has been awarded the Legion d'Honneur medal – France's highest award for military bravery – to mark the vital role he played in the county's liberation.

He said of D-Day: "It was a bit rough when we got into Gold Beach. It was all hell let loose for a while.

"We were there all day and eventually we managed to clear a big enough area to allow the bigger craft to come in and beach safely and this we did for the best for the week we were there.

"It was still a bit lively and there were still shells coming in.

"I would have been 20 then. It was just part of the job we were there to do it and I did it regardless. You didn't even think about it really."

Mr Robinson, who said it was a great honour to receive the medal, was sent to the Pacific between 1942 and 1946.

He was present at the surrender of Hong Kong.

He had two daughters with his wife Violet, who he married on August 19, 1950.

In 1946 he was demobbed and worked as a butcher until he retired.