A man who cycled the length and breadth of the country well into his 90s is celebrating his 100th birthday today.

Although Percy Wilding actually turns 100 tomorrow, he was joined by around 70 friends and family to mark the special day at St Gabriel’s Parish Church in Havant Road, Walthamstow this afternoon.

Mr Wilding was escorted to the party in a wheelchair from Shopmobility, where he used to volunteer repairing wheelchairs into his 90s, and surrounded by a ‘guard of honour’ of around 20 cyclists from his old cycling club.

Mr Wilding, who grew up in Walthamstow, has lived in his home in Turner Road since 1945 and worked as a meter man at the old power station behind Hoe Street before working his way up to manager of the London Electricity Board showroom in Highams Park.

A fall a few years ago means that Mr Wilding can sadly no longer carry on with his passion for cycling so he has taken to exhibiting photographs from his cycling adventures at the E17 Arts Trail instead.

Mr Wilding is also still an active member of St Gabriel’s church and the local neighbourhood watch.

Granddaughter Bernadette Sullivan, 31, said: “He is such an amazing man. He’s really positive and he's done loads for the local community.

“He likes to keep busy all the time and have a project to work on.”

With that in mind, his grandson gave him 100 questions on his 99th birthday last year and Mr Wilding presented him with a full list of answers today.