Pensioner George Watts works 12 hours a day in all weathers and says he is a living, breathing example of old age power.

The 85-year-old says if he retired he would probably die within weeks.

George, who runs a Brighton fish shop with his wife Gladys, 88, and son Michael, 58, still drives round in a lorry, serves customers and cleans the floor every day.

He says he is enhancing his life by toiling at the fishmonger's, which has been in St James Street for 34 years, and doesn't want to stop until he dies.

He said many of his friends had passed away when they stopped working and he was adamant he didn't want to go the same way.

He gets up every morning just after 6am, makes his wife a cup of tea and then pops on his neat white coat ready for the public.

George and his wife sometimes do not have a chance to put their feet up until 10pm, after the shop floor has been cleaned.

He said: "When people say to me, 'You are mad Wattsy!', when they see me still working I say, I have got a clean driving licence and I can drive the lorry, I clean and dust and serve the customers and that is my life.

"I want to enjoy my life, I would sooner die than retire. I do not want any money for working here. I have enough to live on and we have got our pensions - that is life and that is enough.

"I don't want to go on holiday either because I enjoy it here too much. There is a lot to do."

George started up George Watts And Son in 1965 and has been there ever since.

He said: "I like the people more than anything and it is great to still be doing this. It is just what I know and I am more than happy with that."

George met Gladys at a dance in Brighton where he fell down some stairs after having a few too many. She helped to mend his torn coat - and the rest is history.

George is battling on at the shop despite suffering from a bout of pneumonia recently. He said: "I was in a bad way but I will carry on until I drop."

And he says he still lives life to the full. To prove it, he treated Gladys to a slap-up meal for their 65th wedding anniversary - at McDonalds. He said: "I even ordered an extra slice of cheese!"