The National Service Veterans' Association is calling for MPs to support the campaign for a National Defence Medal for everyone in the military service since the end of the second World War.

The Blackpool branch of the association is supporting an early day motion – put forward by Michael Mates, MP for East Hampshire – for the campaign to be debated in the House of Commons.

The campaign has been given the backing of the families of fallen Fylde coast heroes.

Paul Smith, stepfather of Fleetwood Marine Darren Smith, who was killed during a Taliban ambush in Northern Helmand, Afghanistan, in February, said: "It's a great idea for them to be recognised.

"Just because they didn't die out there or get injured, they have all done a fantastic job for their country.

And Ray Pinkstone, who served in the Royal Marines and is uncle of Nicola Marlton-Thomas, widow of Fylde soldier Loren Marlton-Thomas, said he, too, backed the calls.

Cpl Marlton-Thomas, 28, of 33 Engineer Regiment, died earlier this month in an explosion in Helmand

Mr Pinkstone said: "Some people on the same unit may not be sent to a campaign, obviously those who do will receive a campaign medal.

"But they have all served and all worked as a team in the unit."

The Australian and New Zealand governments issue a service medal sanctioned by the Queen, which makes the refusal by the British Government to budge on the issue even more upsetting for veterans.

John Black, secretary of the Blackpool branch of the National Service Veterans' Association, said: "It's just an acknowledgement of the service they gave."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "British campaign medals have never been awarded for service alone."

For the full story see today's Gazette