A WAR veteran is appealing for help in finding cherished medals which have gone missing since he last wore them on Armistice Day.

Retired rail worker Ronald Phillips, 72, was proud to parade the Korean and United Nations Medals which he earned on active service in Korea from 1951 to 1952 with the 1st Battalion Kings Shropshire Light Infantry.

He has not seen them since he wore them in November when he joined other old soldiers at Remembrance Day services in Bishop Auckland Market Place and at St Andrew's Church, South Church.

Several searches of his Bishop Auckland home have proved fruitless and now Mr Phillips fears he may have lost the medals for good.

He realised they were gone when he packed his case for a reunion in Shrewsbury last week.

Mr Phillips said: "They are not worth anything to anybody else but they are very precious to me.

"They are a reminder of difficult times when I was with a machinegun crew and came under fire but I would very much like to have them back.

"My family have helped me look but we can't find them anywhere. I am hoping someone has picked them up and will get in touch."

Mr Phillips can be contacted on (01388) 607343.