A VERWOOD man was one of five British veterans to receive France's highest military honour for their role in liberating the country during the Second World War.

Alfred Hicks, 93, said it was "absolutely marvellous" to receive the Legion d'honneur medal. The Normandy veteran was a cameraman in the Royal Air Force film unit who filmed the landing at Normandy on D-Day.

He spoke of a close call with enemy fire as he landed at Sword Beach.

"I landed on the beach about 10 o'clock in the morning," he said.

"The landing craft had ducks on it, vehicles that go into water, and I was with the army medical craft.

"When I got up to the beach we were shot at by the Germans, with tracers coming over. They were just missing us, thank goodness.

"The driver of the duck went green. He said to the officer, I can't go on."

But after some stern and threatening words from the officer, the duck driver did go on, Mr Hicks said.

Three other men and one woman, including an Enigma codebreaker who operated Alan Turing's machines and a soldier who once captured 12 Germans, received medals in a ceremony at the French Ambassador's Residence in London on Friday. It followed several others that have taken place across the UK since the 70th anniversary of D-Day in June 2014.

Former French President Francois Hollande at the time pledged to honour all British veterans who had served and France has so far decorated more than 5,500 veterans.

"It is a very great honour for me to recognise and express our country's heartfelt gratitude to each of you, who helped liberate France during the Second World War," Ambassador Jean-Pierre Jouyet said.

"The French authority was able to count on the support of its closest partner from the very first hours of the war.

"So long life to the French and British friendship."

Mr Jouyet presented the veterans with their medals and kissed them on both cheeks before the French and British national anthems were played.