Birthday preparations are underway as a local resident turns 100.

John Rutherford has lived in Davyhulme for nearly 70 years, and will celebrate his 100th birthday on Saturday.

His family will present him with a special gift, a book of his memoirs that his daughter, Liz, has compiled called A Century of Memories.

Liz said: “We want to put a copy of the book in the Urmston Library and the Imperial War Museum North.

“He’s has such a fascinating life and I want to make sure his stories are remembered.”

Born in Boldon Colliery, County Durham, John was sent to fight in the Second World War at the age of 20.

Returning home after six years on the battlefront wasn’t easy. The Newcastle Labour Exchange turned him away, claiming he had no work experience, and John was unable to find a job.

In an attempt to escape his desperate situation, he made the decision to move to Manchester.

He trawled the streets for a year, trying to sell refrigerators, before attempting mining.

John had kept away from this dangerous career after his father died in a pit shaft.

John was eventually offered a clerical position at the National Vulcan, an engineering and boiler firm on King Street.

He worked at the company for over thirty years alongside raising his three children, John, Liz, and Philip.

He was also a dedicated husband to his wife, Edith, known to her friends as Betty.

John cared for Edith when she fell ill, and looked after her until she passed away in 2006 at the age of 82.