A 99-year-old Second World War veteran has become the oldest person to be recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours list.

Wilf Oldham from Radcliffe has been awarded an MBE for commemorations and UK/Dutch relations in the Diplomatic Service and Overseas.

Mr Oldham served in the Airbourne Division and saw action at the Battle of Arnhem as well as in Sicily, North Africa and Italy.

His second mission at the famous Battle or Arnhem began on July 17, 1944 and was the Allies’ attempt to take a German-controlled road bridge of huge strategic value.

He previously told the Bury Times: “It was supposed to take 48 hours but it lasted nine days. It was very intense and the Germans surrounded us in a trench. We didn’t have enough ammunition and we’re told only to fire if we had a guaranteed hit.

“The top brass told us the German troops were third-rate and that they had no tanks. Both of these were wrong and we came under very heavy fire before eventually withdrawing.”

The platoon only had enough rations for two days but didn’t even get to eat those because their backpacks were out of reach.

“There was only rain water to drink and I didn’t eat for ten days. A lot of the others lived off apples that were growing on the trees but I was unlucky because, even as a small child, apples made me sick.”

Mr Oldham served in the Airlanding Brigade until the end of the war before returning home to Radcliffe where he worked in the textile industry until his retirement.