A 100-YEAR-OLD man was left well chuffed after staff at a Bolton care home presented him with a train-themed birthday cake.

Kazimierz Zielewski (known as ‘Ken’) celebrated the landmark at Grange Lea Residential Home last week where he was joined by his two sons who travelled from Europe to be with their dad.

“Dad is originally from Poland but he came to Britain after the Second World War,” said Frank, 60, who flew from Zurich, Switzerland. “He had been a slave labourer on a farm in Germany until he was liberated by the Americans.

"He had a choice to come to the UK or the US and chose the UK because he thought he would come back to Poland but he never did.”

Ken first travelled to Scotland where he worked in a coal mine but he was moved around until he ended up in Bolton where he met his wife who was originally from Austria.

“Dad has always worked hard all his life,” added Frank. “After the mining he worked in the foundry for British Rail and did that until he retired. He even came to see me in Switzerland when he was 95 and flew by himself.”

Ken’s other son, Richard, 62, travelled from Germany along with his wife Monika and 16-year-old daughter Laura.

“I’ve been living in Germany for almost 40 years,” he said. “I’m so proud of dad because not many people get to live to 100 and it was certainly worth all the hassle to get here.

“Dad always worked very hard with his hands and he was always in the garden every day and would always walk into town to do his shopping. He would even decorate the house two or three times a year.”

Ken’s birthday was also a proud moment for the manager of the residential home, Margaret Amara.

“Ken is the latest resident to celebrate his 100th birthday, but we have another two this year,” she said. “Soon we will have five residents who are over 100 and we have one lady who is 106.

“Ken is a great resident. He would prefer to be at home but we hope he considers this his home too.

“The cake was his idea and he initially asked for a train coming out of the tunnel but I think he loves this one just as much.”