IT IS his recipe for a long life - and for Douglas Terrey it has certainly worked.

The great-grandfather has just turned 105 and started his birthday the way he has started most days of his life - with a full English breakfast.

Douglas says he has tucked into a hearty fry-up for more years than he can remember and believes it sets him up for the day.

It is not unusual for him to polish off a bowl of cereal followed by four rashers of bacon, a sausage, two eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, black pudding and three slices of toast first thing in the morning.

He said: "I have been having a fried breakfast for years and years and years now so it is just a matter of course and I don't even think about it.

"When I got my first job I would go to work on a good breakfast and I knew I wouldn't get hungry. I think this kind of food is wholesome - like the food we used to have in the old days."

Douglas has enjoyed most of these breakfasts in his Marchwood home where he has lived for 78 years.

He moved to the new house in 1930 after marrying Ethel, who died 18 years ago after the couple had celebrated 60 years of marriage. It was in this house that his children Margaret and Arthur were brought up and he later spent time with his four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He said: "When I first moved into this house I woke up to nightingales singing but sadly they disappeared a long time ago when the farms went.

"I saw lots of farms go from being flourishing businesses, to being run down and disappearing altogether.

"There are many more cars around now which is terrific. When I was young you had to walk everywhere or catch a bus. People were much fitter back then."

Douglas attended Southern District School in South-ampton and left a day before his 14th birthday to join the Army as a dispatch boy delivering letters and parcels across the region.

Two years later he began an apprenticeship with Parsons Engineering. He remained there for 36 years before joining Esso where he worked until retiring in 1968.

During the Second World War Douglas was in the Home Guard and made parts for rescue planes.

In his younger days he liked cycling, swimming and music. He now enjoys attending the Cussens Day Centre in Hythe and taking part in quizzes.

Staff from the centre attended his birthday bash at Marchwood Village Hall on Saturday.

There were 54 guests at the party and Douglas received many cards including one from the Queen and another from his MP, Julian Lewis.