A war veteran and lifelong Watford FC supporter who lost £5,000 in a burglary last April enjoyed watching Saturday’s game from the directors box after a special invitation from the club.

Lionel Lake, 91, who fought on the Normandy beaches during the D-Day Landings in 1944, had every penny of the £5,030 stolen from his house while he slept returned after the community rallied to help the pensioner.

Mr Lake, who has been attending Watford FC games since the 1930s, was invited by the club to watch Saturday's West Bromwich Albion Premier League clash from the directors box.

He enjoyed one of the best views at Vicarage Road and a meal in the Legends' Lounge.

Lionel’s son Gary who accompanied him on Saturday said the day was another wonderful gesture that made Mr Lake forget everything nasty that had happened.

Alan Palmer, who organised the fundraising effort for Mr Lake, said: "We asked Watford FC if they would let Lionel come and watch the game. He first stated going to matches in the 1930s. The club let him sit in the directors box, park in the directors' car park and have a meal in the Legends' Lounge.

"He went with his son Gary. Gary told me after it was another wonderful gesture that made his dad forget everything nasty that had happened to him.

"It's brilliant that Lionel is back where he needed to be after the burglary."

Mr Lake, who now lives in Ruislip, was born in Watford and joined the Home Guard at the age of 15 before he signed up for the Army’s Rifle Brigade at 17.

He was among the brave soldiers who fought on the beaches in the Allied invasion during the D-Day Landings in Normandy.

He was knocked out by a mortar explosion in Falaise before he was sent home and presented with four medals for his service.

The GoFuneMe page set up after he was burgled on at around 9pm April 23 raised £6,632, with the left over money split between the Royal British Legion and the Help For Heroes charity.