WITH his rich store of memories it seems fitting that gifted artist Michael Jeffries, 89, has a knack of making the past come alive.

For half a century, he has been painting scenes from bygone Manchester and Salford in oil on canvas.

And now, at nearly 90, he is holding an exhibition of his work for fellow residents at the housing scheme where he lives and still paints his pictures in Hale, Altrincham.

Great-grandfather Mr Jeffries, who fought on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day in the Second World War, has amazed other residents at St Andrew's Court since he turned their lounge into an impromptu gallery.

He said: "I love painting. It gives me so much pleasure. I like recreating scenes of Manchester from before the war best of all.

"I've really enjoyed doing this exhibition. It's nice to see the faces of the residents when they look at my work. It makes me very happy and I want to keep painting as long as I can."

Mr Jeffries was born in 1918 and grew up in Ancoats. He went to St Gregory's High School in Ardwick.

Factory

When he left school he began working at AV Roe's aircraft factory, making bi-planes and propellers.

He served in the Army in the war before getting a job building vans and lorries and marrying his soul mate, Linda.

The couple, who lived in Didsbury, were together for 66 years before Linda's death in 2004 and had 12 children.

Amateur artist Mr Jeffries has enjoyed painting since his 40s but has been putting his brush to the canvas even more in recent years. He also enjoys reading and photography.

Mr Jeffries' daughter Anne-Marie Taylor said: "I'm extremely proud of him. It's lovely for him to see his artwork on display and to see so many people enjoying it."

Bob Welch, the manager at St Andrew's Court, said: "Mr Jeffries is a very good artist. His face has really lit up since the exhibition started. We've had a constant stream of visitors."

Moisei Feigin, 107, of Moscow, is in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest commercial artist.

See some of Michael's work in the gallery above.