BERNARD Sparks, who has just turned 103, is as sprightly as a youngster.

The first world war veteran celebrated his birthday at his home in Ridgeway House in Wootton Bassett, surrounded by friends and wellwishers.

He puts his good health down to fine food and plenty of exercise and taking every day as it comes.

Mr Sparks said: " I enjoy life and make the most of every day. You're only dead once, " he said.

"I'm a lucky chap. I enjoy my food - super food, they spoil us here.

"But I'm a lightweight, I weigh only about nine stone.

"I still exercise every morning. I start off in bed, as soon as I wake up, to get the circulation going like putting petrol in the car.

Mr Sparks is well-known for his sparkling sense of humour.

"I have a cataract on one eye, so to see clearly I close one and it might look as if I'm winking.

"If the ladies slap my face, I'm out, but if they give me the eye I'm all right," he joked. The Mayor of Wootton Bassett, Coun Marion Sweet, was one of his visitors on his birthday at the weekend and she gave him a paperweight containing a penny minted in 1900 the year of his birth.

Mr Sparks was born in Dorking and moved to Wootton Bassett in 1982, ten years after his wife Barbara died.

As a Sea Scout during the World War I, he helped coastguards on beach patrols, and carried messages.

Bernie played the violin and alto saxophone for many years.

During World War II he was in a dance orchestra which entertained troops and Land Army girls.

He then spent most of his life working in the printing industry as a compositor, which involved setting up type.

Mr Sparks' rooms is filled with gifts and cards. He even received birthday greetings from the other side of the world

as Mark Bridgeman, who is the son of Ridgeway House care leader, Joanna Bridgeman, sent cards from school children in South Korea where he is a teacher.