ARNOLD Grieve was four when he stood on a chair in church and sang in public for the first time - and 86 years later he is still going strong.

The bass baritone has taken the lead in operatic productions all over the region and given hundreds of recitals and concerts.

Now, after celebrating his 90th birthday at his home in Cotherstone near Barnard Castle, County Durham, he has three engagements lined up and is looking forward to taking more bookings next year.

Mr Grieve has loved singing since he made his debut, performing Jesus Bids Us Shine for a large congregation in the Baptist Church at Middleton-in-Teesdale, in 1917.

He said yesterday: "I'm lucky that my voice has lasted all this time.

"Friends tell me it is as good now as it was 50 years ago. I mean to go on singing as long as I live."

He is planning to make a CD soon and give copies to his friends and family - a daughter, three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

He had such a reputation as a boy that officials travelled from Durham Cathedral to listen to him when he was nine, and offered him a place in their choir school.

"I didn't want to leave home," he said. "I just stayed and did all my singing in my own area."

He later became a quarryman, policeman and milk board officer but continued his singing.

Mr Grieve drives himself to his engagements. He said: "Many years ago I totted up that I had driven 900,000 miles. I gave up counting but I know I'm now well past the million mile mark."