ONE of York’s oldest and most loved paperboys says he has no plans to hang up his bag after celebrating his 75th birthday.

Ron Martindale, of Fossway, started delivering papers around the Fossway estate when he was 60 and has not stopped since.

Ron said: “I think I’m the oldest paperboy. I’m going to keep on going and going, I don’t want to stop. My friends think I’m an idiot because I haven’t retired yet.”

Having only been into hospital once, for a cataract, Ron believes the secret to his good health is his paper round. He said: “I do it to keep myself fit and to get out of the house as I live on my own. Meeting people is my favourite part and all my customers love me.”

However, Ron has not always delivered the morning papers. Aged just 17 he joined the Army and served two for years in the West Yorkshire Regiment as a weapons officer.

“I was sent to Belfast where we fought against the IRA. It was really scary, a lot different from delivering papers,” said Ron.

He also worked for York City Council for more than 20 years before becoming a painter and decorator.

“I worked all over the country,” he said. “But I was always based in York.”