Medals traced to honour WWII hero from Lancashire
Medals belonging to a Royal Navy coder who died in World War II have been presented to his sisters in Lancashire.
Stanley Smith Pollard drowned in 1945 aged 19, just four months before the war ended.
His five medals for bravery were not claimed after the war finished and have been in storage ever since.
Young people in Clitheroe, members of Ribble Valley Remembrance, traced the medals for the two sisters, Kath Brooks and Marjorie Preston.
In a special ceremony, the pair, who said they were delighted to retrieve the medals honouring their brother, thanked the work of the group.
Lancashire County Council's chairman, Chris Holtom, presented the two women with the medals at St Mary's Church in Clitheroe on Monday.
"Stanley, and others who fought in WWII, made a huge sacrifice for their country," he said.
"Without their efforts, Britain would be a very different place today.
"It's important to remember what they did and it's been a great honour to present Stanley's family with his war medals today."
Stanley Smith Pollard was based and buried in Norway.
Mr Holtom added: "Many people still haven't claimed war medals for themselves or their families and are unsure of how to do so.
"Clitheroe Youth is doing a superb job by taking the stress out of the process and filling in the paperwork for them."
Mel Diack MBE, chairman of Clitheroe Youth, said: "The service was a huge success and I know that both Kath and Marjorie were delighted to be presented with their brother's medals.
"We think that reflecting on what people from the Ribble Valley did for those who lost their lives in World War II is important."