A D-DAY veteran has been honoured for his role in the decisive Normandy landings of 1944.

Captain Jim Forbes, who now lives in Shucknall, began his sea-going career at the Royal Merchant Navy School after his father died in 1940.

As D-Day approached in 1944, he volunteered to sail on one of the thousands of ships being readied to make the crossing for the pivotal military operation.

He crossed the channel on the Empire Russell, a 3,750 GRT tanker carrying 5,000 tons of vital aviation and motor spirit to the small fishing harbour of Port-en-Bessin, located between Omaha beach and Gold beach on the Normandy coast.

The landings proved to be a turning point in the war, and Captain Forbes celebrated VE Day in southern France the following year.

He went on to spend 20 years travelling the globe in the Merchant Navy, rising to the rank of Master Mariner, and later worked for Shell, retiring in 1984.

Now in his 90s, Captain Forbes continues to make annual pilgrimages to Normandy to take part in commemorative events in remembrance of those he sailed with, and those who never returned home.

Captain Forbes, who in 2016 received France's highest military award, the Legion d'Honeur, for his part in the liberation of the country, has now been awarded honourary citizenship of Port-en-Bessin-Huppain, where he landed 75 years ago.

He has also received insignia from the Comité du Débarquement, which works to preserve the memory of those servicemen who took part in the liberation of France.

Committee President Jean-Marc LeFranc said: "The people of Normandy will never forget your sacrifice and the cost of freedom. You gave your youth and paid the ultimate sacrifice in order that we may live in a free world.

"You are the greatest generation."