A CUMBRIAN man was given the 'immense honour' of accompanying a D-Day veteran to a special commemorative service marking the 80th anniversary of the historic day earlier this week.

James Kenyon, 25, from Workington was chosen as a veteran host accompanying one of the D-Day veterans to the D-Day commemorative service in Portsmouth on Wednesday, June 5.

James, who has now been in the navy for eight years, was selected as a host for D-Day veteran John Trottman, making sure that he and his family were looked after throughout the day.

The pair were two of hundreds of people gathered on Southsea Common in Portsmouth, Hampshire, to mark the occasion - with other guests including His Majesty the King in the event hosted by the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Trottman was part of the RAF Bomber Command and latterly a Mosquito Pilot, on the build up and during the D-Day landings, with James saying it was 'the greatest honour' he has ever had to accompany the distinguished veteran on the day.

He said: "As part of the UK’s commemoration to the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, I had the immense honour and privilege of attending the event in Portsmouth, hosting a veteran and his family.

"John Trottman (103) was a pilot during the war, at first in RAF Bomber Command, and as a Mosquito Pilot on the build up and during the landing, earning 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses. This was the greatest honour I have ever done and ever will.

"It was amazing to be able to commemorate the event, paying homage to the veterans and also the men and women who didn’t make it back.

"This is definitely something I will never ever forget. I even got on the TV and seen the King."