Crimestoppers offers £5,000 reward for blind D-Day hero Alfred Barlow's stolen war medals

The hunt to find a blind World War II veteran's medals has intensified after Crimestoppers offered £5,000 for information which leads to their return.

Last week Alfred Barlow made a heartbreaking appeal for the return of his medals, which went missing while the D-Day veteran was returning home to Stockport from a pilgrimage to Normandy in France.

His wife and grandson carer noticed his four medals were gone after he visited the gents' toilets at Norton Canes Services on the M6 Toll on Thursday June 8 - the day of the General Election.

The four medals lost are the 1939-1945 Star, the France & Germany Star, the 1939-1945 War Medal and the Palestine Medal.

Mr Barlow, who turned 96 on Sunday, said the medals he hoped to pass on to his grandson were more than "just a piece of metal".

"It's recognition of what part I played in that invasion," he told ITV News.

"I want them back - they mean so much to me."

The reward of up to £5,000 from Crimestoppers will be paid out if information leads to the recovery of all four medals and the arrests and conviction of anyone responsible for their loss.

Crimestoppers' reward comes after Hollywood actor Hugh Grant offered £1,000 for the safe return of the medals, while the charity Blind Veterans UK also offered £5,000.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or the Blind Veterans UK hotline on 0800 389 7979.