Convoy veteran returns to Russia

A Gloucestershire-based war veteran is visiting Russia as a guest of honour at the country's VE Day celebrations.

Jim Pratt, from Hartpury near Gloucester, was due to attend a commemoration service in Murmansk on Monday morning.

The Royal Navy veteran flew to Moscow last week before travelling on to St Petersburg and then Murmansk.

The service will mark the first time Mr Pratt - who worked on the convoy ship - has been to the city for 60 years.

Mr Pratt and his comrades will be presented with a campaign medal from the Russian government.

His trip was subsidised by a lottery grant from the Heroes Return Scheme which covers the costs of veterans revisiting the places they served.