THE Northern Echo is revered as the Great Daily of the North of England, keeping its readers up to speed on happenings throughout the North-East and North Yorkshire.

And the newspaper is still essential reading for centenarian Sam Greene - even though he has lived in the Middle East for the past 20 years.

Living in the city of Netanya, in Israel, Mr Greene could have been forgiven for losing touch with the latest goings-on in his former home of Darlington.

But the current affairs enthusiast makes sure he never misses a development in the town - by regularly having his favourite paper sent across thousands of miles for him to read.

Family and friends of Mr Greene, who ran the popular Greene's For Jeans business under the town centre clock for many years, gathered at the weekend to mark his 100th birthday.

It has been a colourful life for Mr Greene, who was born in Glasgow on October 15, 1905.

His first home was in the notorious Gorbals area of the city, but the family moved to Battlefield when he was a year old.

Mr Greene went to Battlefield School and left at the age of 16 with a respectable report card, going on to get a job in a goldsmith's shop, making wedding rings.

In 1936, he left Scotland for Victoria Road, Darlington, where he worked for his brother-in-law for the princely sum of 30 shillings a week.

The following year, he married his brother-in-law's sister, Phyllis, and they had two girls, Ronah and Jennifer. The couple's third daughter, Hillary, was born in 1949, by which time they lived in Neville Road.

In 1942, he volunteered for the Royal Air Force and was sent to India, where he served for three years.

His unit was sent to Burma to fight the Japanese towards the end of the war and Mr Greene was awarded the Burma Star.

He arrived back in Darlington in 1946, knowing he would have to start making a living from scratch.

He bought a men's outfitting shop and, after a few years, had three thriving outlets, the most successful of which was the landmark Greene's for Jeans business, in West Row.

Mr Greene has long been an ardent sports fan, particularly following the fortunes of Darlington Football Club during his time in England.

In 1985, he and Phyllis emigrated to Israel. Mr Greene cared for his sick wife for the next ten years. She died in 1995.

By that time, Mr Greene was living in a retirement home in Netanya, where he marked his 100th birthday on Saturday.

Benjie Lewis, one of his four grandchildren, said: "He is a remarkable man with an incredible memory and sense of humour.

"He knows what is going on in the world and is completely up-to-date with the news from Darlington.

"He takes an interest in his family and friends who come to visit often, not out of a sense of duty, but because they enjoy talking to him.

"We hope he continues getting the maximum out of his life."