PENSIONER Roy Heald will be celebrating his birthday with his first 'legal' drink.

Although Roy has notched up 72 years, he is only just celebrating his 18th birthday!

Roy, from the Mill Hill area of Blackburn, was born on February 29 1924 - which means up until now he has only ever had 17 official birthdays.

And, incredibly, Roy shares his Leap Year birthday with his young next door neighbour Danny Miller.

The Darwen Vale High School pupil was born on February 29 in 1984 - making him three this year.

Former seaman Roy is planning to celebrate his 18th with a pint at his local.

He said: "Just think, all these years I have been going into pubs under age. "I keep telling the landlords I am only 17, but they don't believe me.

"When it isn't a Leap Year I celebrate on February 28, but it isn't the same because that isn't my real birthday.

"Not many people who have been around as I have and served in the War can say they are only 18."

Danny's father, John, said: "Danny doesn't miss out on his birthday treats in other years, but we do make an extra fuss when it is his real birthday."

But both Danny and Roy will have to make the most of their Leap Year birthdays this year. They will have to wait another eight years to celebrate.

To help keep our clocks and calendars on track, Leap Year will be skipped in the year 2000 but will resume again in 2004.

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