A WORCESTER man has celebrated his 100th birthday with a ride in a classic Model T Ford.

John Collard, of Alexander Road, St John's, reached his century on Saturday and as part of his week-long celebration his friends arranged a suprise ride in the classic motor car.

Mr Collard, who lived in Kent before moving to live with his son in Worcester, has always had a passion for the Model T - the car you could famously have in any colour, as long as it was black.

On Monday, he was collected from the Bromwich Road Mission, where he was enjoying lunch with friends from the West Worcester Live At Home scheme, and taken out for a spin.

Mr Collard likes all kinds of transport, from steam trains to boats.

He said: "Going back many years, three of us had a boat. When the war broke out, the boats were abandoned and when we came back after the war there was only about three inches left above the water.

"I would have liked a boat to replace it, but it's a bit late in life now."

Every day, Mr Collard dons his flat cap, grabs his walking stick and goes for a walk. His favourite route is along the river Severn.

During the Second World War Mr Collard - an upholsterer by profession - served with the Royal Engineers and drove tank transporters.

After VE Day he was sent to Japan but halfway there Hiroshima was bombed and he was able to return home to his wife Iris, who died in December 2003.

He said that although he didn't claim to know the secret of long life, there had be someone "up there" looking out for him.

To mark his milestone, the West Worcester Live At Home scheme also arranged for Mr Collard to meet outgoing Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Ian Imray, who stepped down last night, have a trip on a canal boat and see a male voice choir.