Hard work and whisky are key to long life for 100-year-old Ted

The great-great grandfather still gets through a bottle of Bell's every fortnight as he enjoys a glass served straight with his breakfast alongside a coffee.

The former railwayman, whose care home has a modern fully-stocked bar, swears by the stuff and estimates he has got through 2,100 bottles since his first taste aged 18.

Ted lives in Armana House Care Centre in York with Irene, 91, his wife of nearly 70 years, who accuses him of nipping up to the bar when she goes to bed.

Retired rail fitter Mr Binge said yesterday: "It's beautiful, wonderful stuff. I love it. It's never done me any harm. Maybe they should put it on prescription.

"I had my first taste of it as a young man, when I had a bit of a cold and my father gave me a nip of whisky saying 'That will make you feel better'.

"It did the trick and I liked it straight away, so I started having a glass of it on a morning."

Daughter June said: "He's wonderful, and the whole family love him to bits. He has had a hard life. He lifted heavy sleepers on the railways for 37 years."

Mr Binge was born in 1910 near Malton, and met his wife in Kent while working at a country house where she was cook.