A ROYAL Navy veteran who helped fight off Hitler's advance into Russia during the Second World War has been denied a medal.

Peter Baker was just a teenager when he joined operations in Arctic waters in 1941 and served in numerous patrols and convoys over the next three years.

The Russian Federation wants to honour him with the Medal of Ushakov as a symbol of its gratitude.

But the Foreign and Commonwealth Office says that would breach its rules, which say foreign medals cannot be accepted if a veteran is eligible for a UK equivalent, in this case the Atlantic Star, nor more than five years after service.

Mr Baker, now 89, of Kilve, said: “I think it’s an absolute disgrace. It seems very ‘dog in the manger’ that our government won’t let us accept this award.

“The five-year period rule is a nonstarter, as we were all awarded a medal 20 years ago by Russia and were allowed to accept that.

“We really don’t understand it when veterans from America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia have all been allowed to accept their awards. It’s very peculiar.”

West Somerset MP Ian Liddell- Grainger has taken up Mr Baker's case with Armed Forces Minister Andrew Robathan.

He said: “I agree with Mr Baker totally and am absolutely behind what he is trying to do. These men were incredibly brave and I think it’s right that they should be able to accept the award.

“The minister, a former serviceman himself, has said he will look into it, but whether or not they will change their minds, I don’t know.”

Russian ambassador Alexander Yakovenko wrote to Mr Baker to express his country’s ‘profound gratitude for your heroism and courage’.

Mr Yakovenko said he regretted the UK Government’s stance and would ‘continue to make the case for this award before the British authorities’.