A KEIGHLEY army veteran has celebrated his 100th birthday.

Dennis Allen was joined by several generations of his family for a special lunch at the Hainworth Wood Community Centre, in Keighley, yesterday.

And he received a special birthday cake from social housing group Incommunities, where he has been a tenant for 20 years.

“Dennis is looking fabulous and it was an honour to join him and family members in celebrating his birthday,” said Incommunities chairman, Dave Procter.

Mr Allen, known as Denny Boy to his family, was born in Leicestershire and studied at Loughborough College.

On joining the army he served with the Durham Light Infantry, becoming a staff sergeant major, and saw action on the North West Frontier in South Asia and Burma.

He moved to Keighley in his 30s, working at Marley gas works and then engineering firm Prince Smith and Stells, where he served as a foreman.

Mr Allen was also presented with his telegram from the Queen.