A SECOND World War veteran born in Bridgwater has celebrated his 100th birthday and revealed the secret to his long life - a daily pint of cider.

Sprightly Joshua Kelly hit the milestone and celebrated like he has done almost every day of his life - with a trip to the pub, and Joshua insists his daily tipple has helped him reach the ripe old age.

When asked the secret to a long life, Joshua said: "Cider - and I've been lucky.

"Drinking cider every day could have done it, that and running away from the enemy - the Germans."

Joshua, born in Bridgwater, joined the Royal Marines when he was 18-years-old after being called up for service.

During the six years he spent in the Navy he was deployed to many different areas including Belgium, Egypt and Cyprus.

After leaving the Navy, Joshua moved to Exeter, Devon, to continue a career as a bricklayer and met his second wife, Edna, a widow.

They had three children between them. Joshua had a son called John from his first marriage, and Edna had twins, and then together they had a daughter, Sandra.

Joshua worked on the railways, but at that time there was great call for a bricklayer because of the extensive bomb damage Exeter had sustained in the war.