Leslie Stevens was certainly all "ale and hearty" when he toasted his 100th birthday with a specially-created beer bearing his name.

Bosses at Yorkshire-based Theakston brewed a special barrel of "Old Les Special Ale" in celebration of his centenary after being approached by the Hamers Arms.

Leslie has been among the fixtures and fittings at the popular pub in Higher Summerseat which he has visited virtually every night during the past eight years.

As a regular, he has endeared himself to landlady and landlord, Sheila and Geoff Owen, as well as to many pub-goers.

Knowing that he drank two pints of Theakston best bitter during his visits, Mrs Owen decided to do something special for Leslie's landmark occasion.

"I got on to the brewery and told them about Les and his 100th birthday and they said 'wow, we must do something for him.' So, they created the special draft which they named after him," she said.

Family members accompanied Leslie to the Hamers Arms last Friday to mark his 100th birthday and to toast his health with the new brew.

And the following afternoon, 80 family members gathered at the pub for a big celebratory party. By the end of it, virtually all of the 140 pints of "Old Les Special Ale" had been supped.

Also figuring in the celebration were some kind-hearted pupils from Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School in Rudgwick Drive, Bury, who walked to Leslie's house nearby on Friday to sing "Happy Birthday" to him.

Leslie was born in the Cambridgeshire village of Lode and served with the Royal Navy during World War Two. He and his late wife Annie had five children - two sons and three daughters. Leslie also has 15 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

He worked firstly as an electrician and then as public relations officer for a cardboard manufacturer. When his wife died eight years ago, Leslie moved to Bury to be near his daughter, Jenny.

Son-in-law Mr Paul Mitchell said: "We started going to the Hamers Arms eight years ago. The landlord and landlady are brilliant with him and all the locals look after him. He goes there every night, except Christmas Day. About a twice a week, he will be accompanied but for the remaining five days he'll go on his own and back by taxi.

"I think he goes there simply for the company. He is registered blind. He goes every night and has two pints of Theakston best bitter."

Landlady Mrs Owen added: "He is a wonderful, charming gentleman and there's not a lot of them about. He's always there with some fantastic stories to tell."