The wait continues for Arctic Convoy veterans from the Second World War.

Almost 70 years after the sailors of the Royal Navy and the Merchant Marine took part in the convoys to re-supply Russia during the war, the Government announced it would finally be issuing them with a medal to mark their heroism - battling not only the Germans, but also horrendous weather.

Johnnie Berrill, 89, was one such veteran.

He served on two convoys abroad HMS Intrepid the first in November 1941 to Archangel, the second in January 1942 to Murmansk.

As soon as the medals were announced Mr Berrill’s younger brother-in-law, Peter Dennis, helped him fill in the application form. A month later they are still waiting.

Mr Dennis said: "I rang to chase them but they say they have had a huge number of applications - not so much from the veterans but from the next-of-kin of those who have passed on."

It is thought there are fewer than 200 of the qualifying veterans still alive.

Meanwhile, Mr Berrill waits patiently in his Harrietsham nursing home.