A HALTON man is furious that his godfather's war medals have been lost by the police.

Thomas Skelton was awarded four medals for gallantry and was made an MBE for bravery and heroism in his role with Liverpool City Police during the Second World War.

He rescued people from the debris of bombed buildings and took dangerous explosives from a blazing ship.

But his relatives were stunned when they discovered the medals, which had been bequeathed to Merseyside police, had been lost.

His godson, Alan Leitch, says he is disgusted by the loss of the medals, worth up to £5,000 and priceless in sentimental value.

Alan, of Runcorn, wanted to write an article about Mr Skelton's exploits for a police memorabilia magazine.

He contacted Merseyside Police to ask if he could visit the force's HQ to take a photograph.

Eight months later, he was told that the medals were lost.

Mr Leitch said: 'I couldn't believe it. I feel so incensed and greatly let down as the medals were bequeathed to the police by his daughter on the understanding they would be on display and in safe and secure hands.

'To me, they are priceless and of sentimental value. He was such a good man, fulfilling all and much more of his obligations.'

In a letter to Mr Leitch, a force records manager said: 'I hate to admit defeat, but I think the medals have been lost. I know that this will be the news that you don't want to hear and for this I can only apologise.'

In 1943, after 23 years serving Liverpool City Police, Mr Skelton took up a position as Chief Con-stable of Hyde Borough Police, before it merged with Cheshire. Seven years later, he was appointed Commissioner of Police in Kingstown, Jamaica.

In 1962, he was admitted to Bootle General Hospital, where he died at the age of 59.

A spokesman for Merseyside police said: 'We would like to offer an unreserved apology to Mr Leitch. Quite clearly, the systems we have in place for the archiving of artefacts didn't work and we fully understand why he would feel let down.

'The course of events in no way reflects the force's regard for Thomas Moreton Skelton OBE and the brave work he carried out. The whole city owes people like Mr Skelton a huge debt for their acts of heroism.'

He said a new search for the medals will be started and archiving procedures will be reviewed.