A centenarian who served as a firefighter in Tooting during World War Two, revisited his old station to celebrate his 100th birthday with firefighters.

Charlie Harwood was presented with a commemorative firefighter’s axe while excerpts from his war-time memoires were read out.

Charlie, who was born on March 6, spent his early life in Balham and enlisted with the Auxiliary Fire Service in 1939.

On the Friday before war was declared he remembers reporting to the station.

”I went home from work, had my tea, said goodbye to my wife and reported to Tooting Fire Station,” he said.

He spent the war years fighting fires in the capital attending many major blazes, including the devastating raids during the Blitz.

Charlie remembers his first ‘shout’ was a huge fire at Woolwich Arsenal.

He said: “I thought I was driving into hell, there was fire everywhere you looked, it was awful.

"After a while we drove back to Tooting. As we looked back towards the docks it looked as if the whole of London, particularly the docks, was on fire.”

He also recalled one particularly tragic local incident.

“We were called to Henry Cavendish school, which was being used as a fire brigade sub-station,” he said.

“On arrival we found 12 firemen and one firewoman had been killed by a bomb falling on their mess hut as they sat to eat.

"It was our job to retrieve the bodies. I had lived in this area all my life and knew well a couple of the men who had been killed.”

After his fire station visit, Charlie said: “I was surprised and delighted to be invited to be invited back to Tooting Fire Station, it was wonderful.

"It was good to meet old friends and present-day firefighters and it brought back many memories.

“The gift of the firefighters axe is very special and is something I had always wanted.

But he said he wasn't prepared for a hero's welcome.

"I don't consider myself a hero," he added.

"During the war I was just doing my job. I would like to thank all concerned in arranging this special day for me.”

Bill Thorne, green watch manager at the station, said: “It was an absolute honour to invite Charlie to the station. It was a fantastic opportunity for the firefighters to meet him and hear about his experiences of firefighting during the War. Charlie is a real life hero.”

Charlie, now of Croydon, was also presented with flowers by pupils from Henry Cavendish school.

He said during the war he worked 120 hours a week for £3 wages, and the secret of living to 100 was “Just being happy”.