A pensioner reported to be Britain's oldest new father told of becoming a parent for the seventh time, at 78 - with a woman 54 years his junior.

Jamie Rai was born 10 weeks ago to Raymond Calvert, now 79, and his partner 25-year-old Charlotte, who has adopted his surname.

The former shop owner and market trader described the little boy, who weighed 7lb 1oz at birth, as a "gift from God".

He told The Sun: "I am the most fortunate man in the world. It makes me feel 10ft tall.

"The baby was planned and I did not use Viagra or anything like that.

"I didn't actually think at my age that it would be possible to have a child, but he's a beautiful little fella. I feel blessed. I look at that baby and I think, 'He's so bloody healthy and good-looking - how did I make that'?"

Mr Calvert has six other children who are all older than his partner and range in age from 38 to 51.

He raised them alone after his wife died 28 years ago and now has nine grandchildren.

He told the paper he first met Ms Calvert following a three-year relationship with her mother.

She was 16 at the time and joined him on caravan holidays with his children.