A couple have launched a desperate search to find a Second World War hero after his prestigious Arctic Convoy campaign medal was sent to them by mistake.

Storage company worker Maria Rackley, 23, was shocked when she opened her post on Friday to find a commemorative anniversary medal and a certificate for Arthur Richard Beach.

Her boyfriend Jack Quaife, an ex-soldier, realised the importance of the coveted Russian award.

Now they are trying to track down veteran seaman Mr Beach, probably in his 90s now, or his proud family.

Miss Rackley, of Romford, Essex, said: "He must be a previous tenant. I want this medal to either get back to him or his family. It's a very rare medal to get and he certainly earned it, risking his life every day going to war for his country."

The Arctic convoys delivered vital war supplies to the Russians as they fought the Germans and the route was branded by Prime Minister Winston Churchill as "the worst journey in the world".

The crews were forced to brave mountainous seas, brutally cold temperatures and constant attacks by Nazi U-boats, surface ships and warplanes to reach the ice-free ports of Archangel and Murmansk.

The Russian Embassy is now delivering medals across the UK to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.

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Riddle of wartime medal in search of Arctic hero(www.express.co.uk/news/uk/593778/Riddle-wartime-medal-search-Arctic-hero)