VOLUNTEER Gerry Summers has vowed to continue giving up his time for the RSPCA even after celebrating his 90th birthday last week.

Age is just a number to the energetic Mr Summers, 90, of Chippenham, who has dedicated the last 15 years of his life to volunteering for the RSPCA North Wiltshire branch.

Mr Summers turned 90 last Tuesday (June28) but doesn’t plan to let it stop him volunteering as a key member of the branch’s team, helping out at the Chippenham RSPCA shop every Tuesday morning.

RSPCA shop manager, Helen Osborne, said: “Gerry has been a real asset to the branch with a witty sense of humour and he is a delight to have around.

“He always turns up for his shift, come hell or high water and he is a real favourite with the customers who, like us, hope he will be volunteering with us for many more years to come.”

Mr Summers began volunteering for the Chippenham RSPCA shop nearly 15 years ago, when the shop was in a tiny building in New Road, almost under the Brunel Arches.

He moved with them to their next shop further down New Road, and then moved again when they relocated to the present bigger and better shop on The Bridge.

As well as doing his bit on Tuesdays, Mr Summers makes an extra visit to the shop each week to collect the towels, sheets, bedding and cat and dog food customers donate, which he arranges to be delivered to the Bath Cats & Dogs Home in Claverton, Bath.

Ms Osborne added: “We don’t know if Gerry is one of the RSPCA’s oldest volunteers but he is certainly one of the most dedicated and we are very lucky to have him as part of our team.”