A whisky a day keeps the doctor away, according to Fred Cain who celebrated his 102nd birthday in style last week.

Mr Cain, who lives at Seymour House in Monkton Park, Chippenham, was presented with a bottle of his favourite tipple by staff at the home before being taken for a meal with his family to the Hungry Horse in Chippenham.

Mr Cain said: “I was given four litres of whisky for my birthday and I went for a meal with my family which was lovely. It’s so nice to have them around.

“There is no point buying me any other presents, I just love to have whisky. I started off with a small drink of beer and I gradually moved on to the good stuff.

“I have a glass a night before bed and touch my toes to keep trim.

“They are the only secrets I have to a long life.”

Mr Cain, who has three children, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, moved to Chippenham from Plymouth in 1941 when he was posted to the RAF base in Hullavington.

He recalls working on aircraft in the hangers during the war.

He said: “I remember I had two great pals in the RAF, and one day they were both working on their aircrafts and mine was next to them. I looked at the clock and it said 5pm so I left work and about three minutes later a bomb went off and killed them both. It was terrible, they were smashing friends.”

Mr Cain is also the world’s oldest living member of the Order of the Buffaloes, and last November was presented with a certificate for 80 years of service.