EFFORTS to reunite a 93-year-old Bomber Command veteran with a cherished set of war medals have so far been unsuccessful.

Donald Nicholson, from Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, was attending the unveiling of a Bomber Command memorial spire, in Lincoln, on Friday (October 2), when the medals went missing.

It was initially feared Mr Nicholson, who has had the medals for 70 years, had left them in a motorway service station, but the search has now widened.

The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) put out a Facebook appeal on Mr Nicholson's behalf, which has been shared thousands of times.

During the Second World War, Mr Nicholson served as a flight engineer with the RAF.

He caused a stir during a visit to Darlington last year, when he revealed a possible family link to father of the railways George Stephenson.

IBCC director Nicky Barr said: "[Donald] was very distressed because he arrived at the ceremony and was one of the only ones not able to wear his medals, but also these are treasured items he has had for 70 years, so he was very upset.

"He is aware that he could apply for replica sets or replacement sets but it's not the same when you've held a set for 70 years.

"We've had some really kind offers from IBCC supporters, through our social media and website, from people who've offered to replace the medals for him.

"Unfortunately despite the amount of times it has been shared, we've had absolutely no response as to someone who has found them, so the next step is to look at what else we can do to find them.

"We were very disappointed because when we saw that it had gone viral the hope was that they would be found very quickly.

"It could be for a number of reasons. It could be that they were lost at a different point to that service station.

"It could be that the person who has found them just hasn't realised what they are.

"These aren't hugely valuable in monetary terms but to Donald they are beyond value.

"It could well be that they were lost at another point, maybe the car park at the venue."

She said they are considering using volunteers with metal detectors to search for them at the venue.

If someone has found the medals already and not handed them in, she urged them to do so.

She said: "Please don't be worried about negative attention. If you are then send them anonymously back to the IBCC centre, we will make sure they get back to Donald.

"But please, help us reunite him with these medals. They mean so much to him."