A veteran from Leybourne used as a guinea pig during Britain's nuclear tests is to receive a medal - 65 years after the blast.

Terry Quinlan, 83, had been among thousands of young National Servicemen stationed at Christmas Island in 1957, who witnessed an atomic bomb exploding on a tiny atoll just 23 miles away.

Mr Quinlan was knocked over by the blast and received a shrapnel injury.

Yesterday a plaque was unveiled at the memorial in Staffordshire in tribute to the 22,000 British servicemen from all three services who were involved in the tests.

Terry was one of only 15 veterans from Britain's Nuclear Test programme invited to the special ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, speaking at the event, also announced the government would be issuing a medal to all those who took part.

Mr Quinlan said: "We're so pleased. We have been campaigning for this recognition for years.

"This is fantastic news - it's really difficult to take in after all this time. Some of the veterans were in tears."

Mr Quinlan, supported by his daughter Anne, has actively campaigned for a medal alongside service veterans' groups Labrats International and The British Nuclear Test Veterans Association.

Although they were not on active combat, the test veterans endured harsh conditions at the time and have endured years of ill-health ever since as a result of the radiation, with many dying prematurely.

Just two weeks after that first test, Mr Quinlan was in the sickbay suffering from the effects of radiation sickness.

He went on to experience another four nuclear explosions and subsequently has struggled with various cancers most of his life.

Mr Quinlan said yesterday's ceremony - timed to take place on the 70th anniversary of the first blast - was a grand occasion with the Prime Minister, the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, and scores of MPs present from all parties.

Mr Sunak said a medal would be “an enduring symbol of our country’s gratitude.”

He said the service personnel were “called on to serve at the height of the Cold War” adding “the importance of that contribution cannot be overstated."

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also thanked the veterans, saying Britain's nuclear deterrent “would not have been possible without you."

Veterans’ Affairs minister Johnny Mercer said: "We have finally delivered on that long overdue medallic recognition of our nuclear test veterans.

"Today does not signify the end of that recognition, but a new beginning of official recognition.”

Those who worked under British command during tests on the Montebello Islands, Christmas Island, Malden Island and Maralinga and Emu Field in South Australia, between 1952 and 1967, will be eligible for the medal, which will also be awarded posthumously to the families of veterans who have died in the meantime.

That includes some servicemen from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Kiribati.