'A bit of mischief' was secret to life for man, 109

William Staples was thought to be the oldest man in England

A "cheeky and mischievous" grandfather thought to have been England's oldest man has died at the age of 109, just weeks before his 110th birthday.

William Staples, born on 11 December 1915, died on 2 November at High Cliffe care home in Chorley, Lancashire.

Known as Bill or Billy, the former RAF man liked to claim the secret to his longevity was "to have a little bit of mischief", his family said.

Granddaughter Andrea Morrison said: "Strength, resilience and love are the three things he shared with his family - he will be missed."

Ms Morrison said her grandfather, who was born in Gateshead, was still "incredibly fit" well into his later years.

She told how at age 93 he could even be found up a tree sawing branches down, "thinking that was the normal thing for people to do at that age".

She said he even did press-ups and sit-ups every single day until doctors recommended he should stop when he was in his mid-90s.

"He inspired me to become a strong person," Ms Morrison said.

"He took on any kind of battle he had on life."

Mr Staples died just a month before his 110th birthday

Ms Morrison described the former RAF man as "strong and stubborn at times" but, after some complications during a medical ahead of World War Two, he was unable to fly and was stationed up in Glasgow.

She said this "probably saved his life".

Mr Staples went on to meet his wife Doreen in Bolton and would visit her during the war to "take her courting".

The pair married in 1945 and first lived in Horwich, where Mrs Staples had a hairdressers and her husband had a hardware shop "which had a bit of everything".

Mr and Mrs Staples were together for more than 70 years following their wedding in 1945

Outside work, he loved garden and fishing, and according to his grandaughter, had "a bedroom completely devoted" to the pastime, full of rods, reels and flies.

He retired in his 80s and the pair moved to Adlington in Lancashire, where Mr Staples later cared for his wife until she died eight years ago.

"Everybody in his local village knew of him. He was very well known, well liked and respected in the community," Ms Morrison added.

Carer Yasmin Burslam said: "Billy was a very cheeky chap so he preferred a cheeky name. William was definitely his Sunday name.

"He would often tell us memories of chasing girls and climbing trees.

"He definitely brought a smile to everyone's face every day."

"He loved his food", she continued, and could be a little indulgent, sometimes being known to "get the table salt, shake it on his hand and lick it off".

"It's a pleasure being able to look after people who have done so much in their life," she said.

"The majority of residents have lived through wars, and it gives you a different outlook on life."

Mr Staples' funeral is taking place at Charnock Richard Crematorium later.