Henry Allingham, Britain's oldest man and one of only two surviving Great War veterans, has been awarded a French Legion of Honour medal.

Mr Allingham, 112, the oldest Royal Navy veteran, was moved to tears as he received France's highest military honour in a ceremony at the official London residence of the French ambassador in recognition of his role in the First World War.

The veteran, who lives at St Dunstan's care home for blind ex-service personnel in Ovingdean, near Brighton, has held the rank of chevalier, or knight, in the Legion d'Honneur since 2003 and was promoted this afternoon to the rank of officer.