An RAF veteran has been presented with the highest French honour after his part in the D-Day landings.

Ernest Townsend received the Legion d’Honneur at a ceremony at Swale House in East Street.

The award was created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte to recognise achievements by civilians and military personnel.

Ernest, 91, from Kemsley, was part of Bomber Command and was only 17 when he signed up to join the RAF.

He was in 61 Squadron flying in four-engined Lancasters and took part in 11 operations.

Great-grandfather of six Mr Townsend originally wanted to be a pilot, but failed the exams so became a bomb aimer.

He was 19 when the D-Day landings took place.

He said: “I enjoyed being in the RAF but I didn’t like flying over Germany, I thought that one day they’d get us.

“One of my colleagues in another plane said ‘I’m not going’.”

After the war the Austin Drive resident worked at radar stations teaching people to aim and fire.

He did that until 1947, when he took a job in London Transport, where he worked on night shifts for 40 years.

Steffan Jordan, chairman of Sittingbourne and Milton Regis Royal British Legion, applied for the award on his behalf.

Ernest’s wife June, who he married in 1954, said: “He’s beyond proud. We owe it to the British Legion who helped get him this medal and since the ceremony he’s had to show and tell everyone about it.”

He was presented with the medal by Mayor of Swale Cllr Lesley Ingham last month.

The Legion d’Honneur is being awarded by France to all surviving Second World War veterans who took part in the invasion to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.