A NONAGENARIAN who had never been on a plane before has celebrated his birthday by taking his first flight.

George Simpson, from Coxhoe near Durham City, took the air for the first time in his life on his 90th birthday.

Mr Simpson, a former miner, has never been abroad but had always fancied going in a plane.

And he got his wish after his son Peter, 61, organised the trip as a surprise for his 90th birthday celebrations on Sunday, July 17.

The father and son took to the skies for a tour of the North-East, during which the senior Mr Simpson also had the chance to take control of the light aircraft.

He said: “I’m not used to it but when we got up it was lovely. It was a beautiful day.

“He showed us how to move it so I got the chance to control it. They said not many get to go at the front but it was just like driving a car. It was one in a million.

“I’ve always talked about it but I’ve never been up. If I get the chance I’ll go up again.

“It was a nice day and I enjoyed it. I’ll not forget it.”

They were flying with Durham Tees Flight Trainings, based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, in one of their light aircraft.

After taking off in Teesside, they flew north to Coxhoe, flying over Mr Simpson’s home in Linden Grove, before heading to Durham, where they had a birds-eye view of his birthplace in Millburngate.

The keen Sunderland supporter also enjoyed seeing the football club’s Stadium of Light from above.

He added: “All the houses were so little. Even the stadium looks little at that height.”

His son added: “He’s lived in or around Durham all his life and he’s never been abroad or been in a plane.

“He was always asking me what it was like in a plane. He’s always had a desire to go up but never done it so I organised it for his birthday.

“It was a lovely day going from Teesside and over his house in Coxhoe, where he was born in Durham and over the Stadium of Light because he’s a big Sunderland supporter.

“He absolutely loved it.”

Eva Simpson, his wife of 62 years, decided to keep both feet on the ground.

She said: “I’ve never fancied going on a plane. For our grandchildren going on a plane is nothing because it’s just like going on a bus.”

Mr Simpson, who worked at Bowburn and Fishburn pits before finishing his career at a company making cookers in Spennymoor, celebrated the birthday with a party with his three children and grandchildren last week.