A NORTH Yorkshire man celebrated his centenary surrounded by his friends and family.

James Draper marked turning 100 with a celebration with family members at the Old Lodge Hotel in Malton.

Mr Draper, who is originally from Devon but lived for some time in Strensall, turned 100 on Saturday, and his daughter Stephanie Cook helped organise the event. Mr Draper was a Flight Sergeant in the RAF during the Second World War, attached to the Air Ministry Experimental Station, and was involved in setting up radar stations in the Dodecanese where he was posted missing and killed in action, but survived and returned home. He later qualified as a professional electronics engineer.

Ms Cook said more than 50 people joined the celebration, including his Paul, grandson Justin and his wife Julie and great granddaughter Evie, 13.