A "strong and determined" man who never dreamt he would become a centenarian celebrated his milestone birthday surrounded by 100 members of his family and friends.

John Anderson, of Larchwood Close in Banstead, turned 100 on Saturday, April 13, and attended a party at Nork Community Centre to mark the occasion.

Mr Anderson, who has born in Tottenham, North London, but has lived in Banstead since 1980, said he had a "wonderful time".

He said: "I didn’t realise how many people I know.  My family came from abroad and I got lots of cards and presents.

"I never dreamt it would come to it."

Mr Anderson, who has three daughters - Jan, Bette and Jackie - and 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, left school at 14 and became an apprentice joiner at the firm where his father was a foreman.

Jean, 66, Mr Anderson’s wife of 33 years, said: "He got himself a job as a joiner until World War Two, during which he helped build the Mosquito wing and was an auxiliary fireman. 

"Then, in 1948 he found out he had bone cancer in his left leg and had to have it amputated.

"He was working as an estimated surveyor in London until he retired aged 80.

"John is a very strong character, he’s had to be very determined in his life."

Mrs Anderson said she met her husband, 34 years her senior, when she was working as a PA at an architect and surveyors’ firm in London, where John provided estimates for jobs.

She said: "We would speak quite a lot and one day he rang up and said he’d take me out for lunch.  All the girls in the office said I should go and have a free lunch.

"We just hit it off."

She said Mr Anderson still enjoys music, watching TV and football in his retirement and has always loved cars - "they were his pride and joy".

She added: "He’s very stubborn, but likes people and has lots of friends."