Lottery Funding Inspires War Veteran's Hitch-Hike to France

An 88-year-old war veteran has been filmed hitch-hiking from his home in Blackpool to the battlefields in France where many of his comrades lost their lives in the Second World War.

Robert Coupe's hitch-hike was staged to raise awareness of the UK National Lottery's Heroes Return Programme that helps provide funding to old soldiers who would otherwise find it difficult to go and pay their respects to fallen comrades.

"Our war veterans sacrificed so much to protect our freedom," Vicki Kennedy, Director of The National Lottery Promotions Unit, said.  "It is entirely appropriate that they should receive National Lottery funding to pay their respects to those who didn't return."