A retired stock exchange technician has been crowned the UK's over-65 chess champion - despite being 64.

On July 29 Kevin Bowmer headed to Hull to take part in the British Chess Championships.

Having qualified through a quirk of the rules that sets the age cut-off date at the end of the year, the Abbots Terrace, Loughton resident set about racking up victories in the seven-round, seven-day tournament.

Mr Bowmer, who has been playing the game since he was ten, has had a personal chess renaissance following his retirement as a computer programmer in Frankfurt for the German stock exchange.

He said: "I had a big win in Bradford 40 years ago when I was at university, but this is my biggest since then.

"I had a bit of an advantage because I had been playing for the England team in Dresden and Poland a month before the Hull tournament so my brain was oiled up.

"I was starting as the number ten seed, but I was hoping to finish in the top six."

Mr Bowmer exceeded his expectations, winning four games, losing none and drawing three against the top three seeds to end joint champion.

Although a better result than he had hoped for, Mr Bowmer is used to playing at the highest level.

He added: "When I was playing for the England team I came up against three grandmasters.

"I lost two and drew one.

"Their attentions and concentration levels are very, very high.

"If you make one mistake you are dead."

Mr Bowmer runs the Loughton Chess Club, which meets at the Loughton Bowls Club in Eleven Acre Rise every Wednesday evening.

All ability are welcome.