AN Overton pensioner completed his life-long dream of visiting the Grand Canyon, USA, when he took a trip for his 90th birthday.

Alf Dyke, from Station Road, was treated to a six-day trip, complete with a stay in Caesar's Palace Hotel in Las Vegas.

Even a stretch limousine with champagne was on hand to take him from the airport to the hotel.

"Ever since I read about the canyon and the cowboys as a teenager I have been wanting to get out there," he said. "It was such a wonderful experience and it was so much bigger than I had ever imagined.

"The best bit was having lunch on the edge of the cliffs which gave us a chance to take in all of the amazing views."

Alf travelled with his nephew Brian and Marie, Brain's wife, who struggled to keep up with him.

"He was so excited to be doing what he had always wanted to do," said Marie.

"He was definitely a man on a mission."

It was also Alf's first time flying in a jumbo jet.

"I was more interested in the statistics about the plane's journey than the films they were showing," he said.

He also went in a helicopter ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. "This trip killed two birds with one stone as I've always wanted to go to Grand Canyon and it's been another dream of mine to go up in a helicopter," said Alf.

Despite the trip only lasting six days Alf is always keen to remember the experience.

"Whenever I get tired of reading the newspaper I'm lucky because all I have to do is close my eyes and instantly travel back to the Grand Canyon," he said.

"It was such a wonderful dream come true and my advice to anyone who has a dream is to just get out there and do it," he added.