A great-grandfather from Merseyside has become the world’s oldest living man.

John Tinniswood, who is now 111 years and 223 days old, said his extraordinary longevity is not down to any particular lifestyle choices or diet, but he does eat fish and chips every Friday .

The Briton lived in a care home in Southport, where staff described him as a “big talker”. “I eat what they give me, and so does everyone else. I don’t have a special diet,” he said.

He also said the secret to his longevity was “pure luck”, adding: “You either live a long life or a short life and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

The previous Guinness World Record holder was Venezuelan Juan Vincent MoraHe died this week at the age of 114.

Mr Tinniswood was a lifelong Liverpool fan who did not smoke and rarely drank. He keeps up with the news by listening to the radio and still manages his finances.

His main advice for staying healthy is moderation. “If you drink too much, eat too much, or walk too much; if you do too many things, you will eventually suffer,” he said.

Born in Liverpool on August 26, 1912, he met his wife Blodwen at a ball in the city and they married in 1942 during the Second World War. A year later, they had a daughter.

Mr Tinniswood worked in the accounting departments of Shell and BP until his retirement in 1972.

The couple were married for 44 years until her death in 1986.

Speaking about his 111th birthday, Mr Tinniswood said: “The world is always changing in its way. It’s an ongoing experience… it’s getting a little better, but not that much yet. It’s going the right way.”

After finding out he was the record holder, he said: “It doesn’t make any difference to me. Not at all. I accept it for what it is.”

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Spain’s Maria Branyas Moreira recently celebrated her 117th birthday and is the oldest living person in the world.

The oldest person ever to live was Jiroemon Kimura, who was born in Japan in 1897 and lived to be 116 years and 54 days before his death in 2013.

French woman Jeanne Calment was born in 1875 and was the world’s oldest person. She died in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days.