FORMER Japanese prisoner of war John Bush has been named Aviva Norwich City Fan of the Year for his unstinting support of the club over eight decades.

The 91-year-old was declared the winner before the Canaries' last home game of the season against Carlisle on Saturday.

A panel of judges, including former City winger Darren Huckerby, picked six finalists for the Aviva Fan of the Year competition, which is supported by the Eastern Daily Press.

Fans then voted for the supporter they wanted to win and more than 2,000 votes were cast, with about 50pc of them for Mr Bush.

The Sprowston man, who follows city home and away, will have his name etched on a cup displayed at Carrow Road alongside all the other Norwich City silverware, as well as winning a VIP match day experience.

Speaking to the Eastern Daily Press, he said: "I was astonished to win. I have got a replica of the cup and it is on my mantelpiece now."

Mr Bush remembers seeing Norwich thrash Coventry City 10-2 at the Nest in 1930. His support was interrupted by the second world war, when he was with the Army in Singapore before being captured and forced by the Japanese to build railways in Burma as a prisoner of war.

Even now the Sprowston man does not like to talk about his wartime experience, except to say that it was "ecstasy" when he was freed and came home.

Jane and Ivor Nelson, who put forward Mr Bush for the award, organised a campaign and encouraged many of the travelling away fans to vote.

Mrs Nelson said: "We were so pleased he won and it was so nice that so many people voted for him.

"Lots of people were saying he does deserve it and he has had lots of people coming up and saying well done.

"He really enjoyed the day."

Nick Gibbs, Aviva's Norwich City sponsorship manager, said: "All of the finalists had a good day and it was nice to see all them there and enjoying themselves.

"They all have great stories to tell, which made it even more clear to me how deserving they all were to be finalists.

"When we took up the sponsorship it was to promote the name change from Norwich Union to Aviva and to look to engage and do things with the community, with Norwich City fans and with staff. It's really, really important to recognise the fans and we were happy to reintroduce the Fan of the Year competition again this year.

"It's gone really well is one competition we hope will continue."