A war hero who risked his life to save thousands of Jews from the horrors of Nazi Germany is in line for a formal posthumous honour.

Stourbridge’s Frank Foley, who worked as a passport officer in Berlin, ventured into concentration camps helping to free Jewish internees by securing false papers and passports so they could escape.

But while he has been recognised by the State of Israel as Righteous Among Nations, the same award granted to Oskar Schindler, he has never received formal recognition for his actions in the UK.

But this is set to change after Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday announced the creation of an award of recognition for British heroes who helped Jews and other groups escape persecution.

It is not yet known what form the award will take but Frank Foley’s name and deeds have been a key part of the campaign to get the award established.

The Holocaust Educational Trust and MPs, including Stourbridge’s Lynda Waltho, have long worked to raise the profile of British heroes of the Holocaust. Last year a lecture was held in Stourbridge to mark the 50th anniversary of Mr Foley’s death, attended by more than 150 people.

Chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, Karen Pollock, said: “We are delighted this initiative has received widespread support and the British government are to create this award of recognition. They are a great example to today’s young people about the difference individual people can make when standing up against hatred and racism.”

Mr Foley also hid Jews in his own home until they were ready to make their escape. Following the conflict, he settled in Stourbridge with his wife Kay. He died in 1958, aged 74, but it was many years before his heroism came to light.

He is believed to have saved more than 10,000 Jews from the gas chambers.