CENTENARIAN Walter Peck has laid down a challenge to other gardeners in his home town - beat me if you can!

Mr Peck, who turned 103 two weeks ago, has been gardening most of his life - and has no plans to let his age stop him now.

He has decided to enter the 1998 Abingdon in Bloom competition and has also added his support to the town's bid to be chosen as the most green-fingered in Britain.

Mr Peck, of Coromandel, Abingdon, who has six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, started work as a gardener back in 1908 at the age of 13.

After serving as a sergeant during the Second World War, he returned to professional gardening, retiring in 1972, and has continued gardening as a hobby to this day. His secret of living so long is simple. He said: "Take it as it comes."

Having won the contest for best gardening town in the Central South region for the last two years, Abingdon is eligible to enter this year's Britain in Bloom competition - and needs all its gardeners to help make the town as attractive as possible.

Abingdon Town Council is also looking for sponsorship support from businesses in the town.

Mayor Julie Mayhew-Archer said: "A tremendous amount of work goes into making Abingdon bloom and we are grateful for the efforts of everyone involved.

"I am sure we can count on that support as we go for the national competition this year." As for the Abingdon in Bloom competition, judging will take place in July. Candidates can either enter the competition themselves or be nominated. Entry forms are available from the town council, in Bath Street, or Notcutts Garden Centre, in Nuneham Courtenay.

There are eight competition categories - best front garden, best hanging basket, best container display, best commercial frontage, best pub/hotel frontage, best allotment, best school container and best neighbourhood group entry.

Mr Peck said he had always loved gardening and added: "I still get out into the garden. I have done it all my life so I'm used to it now. I still get on with it fairly well so I decided to enter the competition.

"It's in the summer - I hope to still be around for it..."

He admits he does rely on some help keeping his garden in shape - from his 75-year-old daughter, Dorothy Minchen, who pays him regular visits from her home in Orchard Close, Woodstock.

Mr Peck joked: "My daughter helps me out because I am getting past it!"

Abingdon's oldest gardener celebrated his 103rd birthday two weeks ago when town Mayor Julie Mayhew-Archer paid him a visit.

She said: "He is the most remarkable of people. He has better hearing than I have, and has absolutely all of his faculties. It is a pleasure to talk to him and he still enjoys his gardening."

She added: "He was Dad's Army age during the Second World War!"

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.