A Staveley man has written to the Ministry of Defence as part of a campaign to have the Government recognise the efforts of those who took part in the Arctic Convoys during World War Two.

David Kelly, chairman of Cumbria Friends of Russia and the Republics, which this year staged the Heroes of the Russian Convoys exhibition at Kendal library, wants more recognition for those who survived.

Between 1941 and 1945, after Russia was invaded, British naval men and merchant seamen embarked on supply missions across the Arctic Ocean to its allies in the now former Soviet Union, sailing around the northern tip of Norway, and across the Barents Sea and polar ice caps.

In the region of 1,500 ships took part, an estimated 36 British ships were lost to German U-boats, the Luftwaffe, or the conditions.

In his letter to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, he said: "It will be a great sleight to these brave men who served their country.

It would also be an insult to the Russians who were our allies in that war."

Mr Kelly also called on the Government to award a separate Arctic Campaign medal.

Ms Heywood, of the Ministry of Defence, said it was felt that the Arctic Convoy veterans had been recognised when they were awarded the Atlantic Star, which also acknowledged those who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic.

She said it would be impossible to overrule the original decision made at that time and would set a precedent for many other campaigns to be recognised with a medal.

"Some people who are veterans of the Arctic Convoys want a special medal recognising the arctic convoy which is separate to the Atlantic Star, and that is up to them."