A Wantage businessman is aiming to hit new heights after recently gaining his pilot's licence - at the age of 72.

Quality management consultant Derek Witts, from East Hanney, found demand throughout the UK for his firm's services was soaring, so he now takes to the skies as the quickest and easiest way to meet clients' needs.

Mr Witts, who gained his pilot's licence at Enstone Flying Club, near Chipping Norton, in August after 18 months' tuition, has already winged his way to meet customers in Cornwall, Kent, Wales and Norfolk, and he says distance is now no object.

For Mr Witts it was the latest in a series of personal challenges which have involved rally driving in local and international competitions in the 60s, and a decade later, becoming a proficient sailor in dinghies and yachts.

His first taste of flying came in the 1950s, when, after leaving college, he joined the RAF as a regular officer and did basic flying training in De Havilland Chipmunk aircraft.

But in his mid-20s, he hung up his uniform and began a successful business career in the local area which has stretched over almost half a century.

In 2002, he formed Qualico UK, which now has 15 associates around the UK who work with him in the field of quality management consultancy.

It now has more than 100 clients and is run by three directors since Mr Witts stepped down in August to take on the role of sales and marketing manager.

Of his decision to take up flying, he said: "One of our clients runs an air taxi business at Kidlington, and over a period of time I became more and more interested in aircraft. One day, I was invited to sit in the back and it brought it all back to me.

"I asked the chief instructor if it would be difficult to learn to fly again after so many years, and he said: 'It's like riding a bike'.

"This sowed the seed and some two or three years later, after driving around and seeing lots of light aircraft I went to Enstone, and they told me the same thing.

"It never occurred to me that I may be too old. My instructor was ex-World War Two, and older than I was.

"I've always been a guy to accept a challenge, and it never crossed my mind that I should be sitting in the corner, nodding off.

"What was difficult was doing the groundwork - laws and regulations, radio, meteorology and navigation.

"After a day's work, two hours of that is pretty difficult.

"I had a medical with a Civil Aviation Authority dedicated examiner, and I got all the ticks in the boxes.

"I never had any fear about what I was taking on board."

Mr Witts added: "I had several enquiries from people a long way off. One client was in Margate, Kent, which would have probably have taken three to four hours in a car to get there.

"It took me one-and-a-half hours to fly. I met them at the airport, put forward the proposal, and flew back for tea.

"It's a steep learning curve when you start, but it keeps you fit, and it's very enjoyable. It's good fun, and our club's pilots range from 18 to over 80s."