Howard Hicks has been awarded the Queen's Scout badge -- 63 years after he earned it.

Mr Hicks with the certificate

The former Scout completed the award in 1939 at the age of 17, but the presentation ceremony was postponed due to the outbreak of the Second World War.

He received the award in a surprise ceremony at his 80th birthday party, on November 9.

The badge and a certificate were presented to him by the assistant county commissioner for Venture Scouts, Jo Hawtin, during the party at the Hook Norton Brewery.

The presentation was arranged by his wife Barbara, 73, and followed two years of communication between herself and the Scout movement, which traced Mr Hicks' original records.

Mr Hicks, a retired air traffic controller who lives in Hook Norton, was a Scout in his childhood home of Cheswardine, in Shropshire.

He joined the RAF in 1940, on his 18th birthday.

He said: "I'm now an official Queen's Scout.

"I did all the necessary work for the award in 1939, but war started and the Scout master was called up, so that was that.

"I had told people I had earned it, but never received it.

"It didn't really bother me, so it came as a great shock to be awarded it at my birthday party. I felt quite proud."

About 85 members of Mr Hicks' family and friends joined the party.

Mrs Hicks said: "I was pleased he received his award. It took two years of negotiations, but it was a nice little surprise."