JOHN Gillan remembers the first time he went to his favourite pub.

At just 18-years-old, he popped into the Burns Hotel in York for a pint with his RAF colleagues and his pint of milk stout cost just six old pence.

It proved an auspicious day, and John liked the place so much he decided to go back, and 62 years later he is still visiting for his regular pint.

In the time that has passed John has been to the pub around four days a week, and his friends believe he will have bought not far off 100,000 pints.

Originally from Glasgow, he moved to Yorkshire when he joined the RAF and was stationed the then airbase in Full Sutton.

He has become such a familiar face in the pub that yesterday, on his 80th birthday, the landlords, staff and regulars threw a party for him.

The pub, on Market Street, became the Hansom Cab in honour of the York born inventor of the cab between 1975 and 2013.

John, who lives on Nunnery Lane, said he kept going back because for the friendly atmosphere and the cheap beer. Until the pub's refurbishment last year he could be spotted on many of the photos that decorated the rooms.

Drinking pal Carl Campbell - himself a regular at the Burns for 44 years - organised the celebration with help from publican Mike Gorvin.

"The last time we all went out together was to celebrate John's 70th. It's hard to think where the 10 years have gone."

He said he was thrilled with the celebration they organised so John could mark his birthday with friends and his partner Anne Brayshaw.