Pensioner Bill Bailey, who spent 45 years working for the Ministry of Defence, is asking for donations for Help for Heroes and Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal instead of presents on his 70th birthday.

Mr Bailey, who lives in Martins Close, Bottlesford, is expecting more than 100 at his birthday bash at Woodborough Social Club on Saturday, November 20.

Invitations to his party have made it clear he does not want any presents but wants donations instead to be shared between the charities.

He and wife Dorothy were not sure whether to hold a party, and she said: “What do you want when you reach 70 anyway?”

Mr Bailey said: “We were discussing this with close friends and they suggested we should do something for charity and put forward the Air Ambulance Appeal as one idea and it just snowballed from there.

“We decided that one of the charities had to be Help for Heroes because of the marvellous job they do and we decided to include the Air Ambulance Appeal for the same reason.”

As well as money given in place of gifts there will be a big raffle on the night and the proceeds from that will go into the pot as well.