A PONTYPOOL man celebrated his 101st birthday with four generations of his family, the youngest of which is 100 years and one day younger than him.

Percy Powell, from Talywain, was born in Pontypool on January 18, 1910, to Margaret and Benjamin Powell, the youngest of 10 brothers and sisters.

More than a century later, he is still living in the town, and marked his 101st birthday last Tuesday with an open house, hosted by his daughter, Janice Orzel, granddaughter Elizabeth Maund, and four great-grandchildren, Baily, nine, Bryce, three, and Blythe, two.

The youngest, great-grandson Bowen, turned one on Wednesday.

Mr Powell has lived all his life in the Talywain area of Pontypool, and went to school in Abersychan up until the age of 14.

He then worked as a miner in Markham and Blaenserchan collieries until his 50s, and married Patty Evans when he was 30.

The couple had daughters Elaine, who died seven years ago at the age of 61, and Janice, now 53, and were married for 55 years, before Mrs Powell died in 1995.

Mr Powell later went on to work for the local council as a labourer until he was 65, but daughter Janice said he has had a very active retirement, travelling all over Europe and taking a keen interest in gardening.

At the age of 65 he also travelled to Canada, to meet his oldest sister, who had not seen him since he was six weeks old.

Mrs Orzel said her father had a clear idea of the secret to a long life.

She said: "He would say it was down to hard work, and a whisky every day!"