AN army veteran used his 100th birthday to raise money for a charity close to his heart.

Ron Barber, one of the oldest if not the oldest surviving Green Howard in the Middlesbrough area, was greeted with a ceremonial guard of honour to mark his centenary earlier this year.

While serving during the Second World War he was seriously injured shortly after the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 before being captured in France and serving the remainder of the campaign as a prisoner of war.

Mr Barber helped so many ex-service personnel during his many years as a committed volunteer to the ex Forces and Military Veterans in the Community.

His benevolence continued on his 100th birthday when he asked for no presents just a donation to Cancer Research, which raised £350 for the charity.

His family wishes to thank everyone for their donations.