A solution may have been found to keeping veteran "Dambuster" Les Munro's medals in New Zealand.
Lord Michael Ashcroft has offered to donate $150,000 to the upkeep of London's Bomber Command Memorial if Mr Munro withdraws his medals from auction.
Philanthropist Lord Ashcroft will donate GPB75,000 to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, which looks after the memorial, in return for Mr Munro donating his medals to the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in Auckland.
MOTAT has offered to cover the auctioneer's fees and out of pocket expenses.
Mr Munro's awards, including the Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Flying Cross, were expected to fetch between $80,000 and $100,000 at auction.