AN RAF veteran is flying high after celebrating his 102nd birthday this week.

Corporal Arthur Barker was in charge of preparing the second-ever Spitfire for war.

In 1938, he was serving as a flight mechanic, working on early Spitfires to prepare for the coming war.

The plane Arthur worked on went on to be used as a test-bed for all future Spitire modifications.

He celebrated his landmark birthday at home in Stocksfield on Wednesday, surrounded by family and friends.

Born in 1915 and the 11th of 13 children, Arthur grew up on a farm in Derbyshire.

He joined the RAF in 1936 and in 1938 was a flight mechanic with 66 Squadron at Duxford, part of number 12 Fighter Group for the defence of north London.

During the Second World War, Arthur was posted to 219 Squadron and then to the 16 Army Co-operation Squadron in the Expeditionary Force in France.

He spent his later service with 203 Squadron in Aden in the Desert Campaign and the Battle of El Alamein, before being posted to India in 1944.

In 1947, Arthur married Rolls Royce worker Connie and the couple had three daughters, Caroline, Linda and Patricia.

He went on to hold a number of jobs, including working with Derby Airways and Manchester Oil Refinery. He and Constance bought and renovated a pub and guesthouse in Derby and also took on Bentley Hall in Derbyshire before retiring. The couple moved to Tynedale 13 years ago and Arthur has penned three books about his adventures.

Sadly, just over four years ago, Connie passed away and Arthur now lives with daughter Caroline in Stocksfield. He has one granddaughter, Katy, who lives in London.