FEARLESS George Sutton celebrated his 80th birthday by taking to the skies for his first flying lesson!

The daredevil pensioner, of Mead Road, Padgate, had a big surprise when he opened his present from his son, David.

Inside was a ticket from the Ravenair Flying School in Manchester, for a flight in a Piper PA38 Tomahawk training aircraft.

Although George can't even drive a car, he couldn't wait to get airborne. And once he was up, the pilot allowed George to take the controls while they flew over Warrington.

George said: "It was a marvellous experience. I really enjoyed myself.

"I wasn't expecting to take the controls, but the pilot showed me how to hold the wheel and turn the plane around.

"We were in the air for an hour and when we flew over Warrington I could make out landmarks like the Parish Church and Winwick Hospital, where I worked for 33 years."

George says he wouldn't mind another crack at flying a plane - but his 76-year-old wife Hetty may be next in line for an adventure.

George said: "David has told her that for her 80th birthday she can go up in a hot air balloon.

"We're becoming a family of daredevils. Our grandchildren think it's great!"

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