A 76-year-old war veteran who has never used a computer in his life has turned to the internet in a bid to track down his long lost comrades.

Edgar Gledhill, of Poplar Crescent, Shipley, was a complete novice until staff at the Bolton Woods Community Centre persuaded him to go online.

Now he makes a regular weekly trip to the centre's UK Online facility where he searches through websites in a bid to find men he fought alongside during the Second World War.

Edgar, who served with the Royal Engineers in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Singapore, said he still feels as strongly as ever for his fellow soldiers and hopes his search will yield some results.

He has been encouraged to track them down after recently tracing one of his former comrades, but unfortunately he discovered the soldier in question had died several years ago.

He said: "Fighting together in a war creates a unique kind of friendship. I shared memories with those men that you just don't forget in a hurry. For years now I've wanted to try to trace my old war comrades, but haven't been able to do so."

Edgar said he became aware of the computers available at Bolton Woods through a luncheon club for elderly people at the centre.

"I'd never been near a computer in my life and was quite worried about using one," he said.

"But I've wanted to find out about my old comrades for so long and this seemed like my last chance. The staff at the community centre were so kind and helpful. They showed me how easy it was to use the internet and to find websites about ex-servicemen. I posted up several notices about my batallion and kept my fingers crossed that one of my old friends would respond.

"It is just marvellous what you can do. I have received emails and sent them out to friends and relatives all over the world. I never thought I'd be able to pick it up so quickly."

Community centre manager, Councillor Tony Miller (Lab, Shipley East) said Edgar was a great example of how the UK Online Centres could offer new opportunites to those without computers.

"He was very cautious at first, but the computers allowed him to search through the internet for his old comrades and his own service history," said Coun Miller.

"Now we can't keep him off them because he is finding out so much information!" Coun Miller said Edgar had even helped him to track down his own father's service history so he could replace some lost war medals.

And he said the popularity of the computers had encouraged the centre to bid for Government New Opportun-ities Fund cash so it could be extended.

"Edgar is just one of many elderly people who are getting a benefit from it," he said.

"We are even encouraging them to use the computers to produce a newsletter for the benefit of their groups. Edgar just shows that you are never too old to have a go."

The facility at Bolton Woods Community Centre is open every day of the week, and a creche facility is available. For more details, contact the centre on (01274) 588684.