World War II Gurkha hero Tul Bahadur Pun is now trying to get his Victoria Cross back from the British authorities, who took it away from him 30 years ago on the pretext that it required "safekeeping."

Eighty-four-year-old Pun, who came to Britain last week from his home in Nepal for medical treatment, recently went to see his medal on display in a case at the Gurkha Museum in Winchester.

Museum chiefs use a picture of Pun on their leaflet - but when asked if he could hold the medal, they refused.

A sad Pun was quoted by The Mirror as saying: "It is mine. I want it back. I must have it back."