A war hero has been given a top engineering honour to make a lifelong wish come true.

Henry Allingham, 112, who lives at St Dunstan's, a home for blind former servicemen and women in Ovingdean, Brighton, was a mechanic in the RAF and then worked in the motor industry.

He always wanted to become a professional engineer but never got the chance.

After hearing about his dream, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), presented Europe's oldest man with the President's Special Award for Outstanding Contribution and Achievements on behalf of the engineering profession.

He was invited to the institute's headquarters in Birdcage Walk, London, accompanied by Dennis and Brenda Goodwin, from Worthing, of the World War One Veterans Association.