WAR veteran Tony King has returned from France after taking part in a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Lisieux in Normandy.

Tony trained at Bovington during World War Two and now, aged 80, has retired to Swanage.

He was among the veterans who were honoured by the town with a commemorative insignia from the people of Lisieux.

Throughout this year numerous French towns have been marking the anniversary of their freedom from the Nazi forces following the D-Day landings in June 1944.

Tony, of Cauldron Barn Road, was serving with the 5th Royal Enniskillen Dragoon Guards and driving a tank when he helped to push the German forces out of the French town in August 1944.

One of the hardest things for the allied forces was to retake the town without causing damage to the partially completed Basilica building - which was eventually completed after the war and is now one of the most impressive buildings in the region.

After being presented with their awards and taking part in a formal ceremony in the centre of Lisieux, Tony and the other veterans enjoyed drinks and snacks in a marquee while a parade of vintage military vehicles and cars took place.

"Making up for an obvious scarcity of entrants, the same vehicles were driven round and round the Place Mitterand several times with increasing exuberance," said Tony.

When he returned to his hotel Tony thought he had experienced all the kind French hospitality shown to the war heroes, but there was another surprise when a fellow diner turned out to be a local distiller who treated him to a glass of Pommeau.

On returning to Swanage Tony said: "I would not have missed the event for all the tea in China."

First published: September 7