A SPRIGHTLY 100-year-old has put his good health and ripe old age down to his passion for gardening.

Arthur Wilks was inundated with birthday cards yesterday, but celebrated the occasion with a special dinner with 26 members of his family the previous day.

"It was marvellous to have the family over. We got some lovely pictures," he said.

"You wouldn't believe the number of cards I received, they are all over the place."

Mr Wilks moved from the Lake District to Age Care: Dorset House in Droitwich four and a half years ago to be closer to his family.

The former woodworker, who has four grandchildren, aged 41 to 47 and five great grandchildren, aged two to 18, said his love of gardening had kept him fit over the years.

"I have always done hard work, gardening and a lot of exercise," he added.

His daughter, 74-year-old Yvonne said: "He had an excellent garden and allotment.

"He is a character and he knows his own mind even now.

"I think it was the gardening, the determination and the attitude of mind.

"He was determined he was going to make 100."

Mr Wilks, a widower, spent much of his working life in Oxford, but during the Second World War he was a fireman and helped to make Spitfire aircraft.