Britain's oldest policeman says he will keep pounding the beat — aged 63. PC Roy Houghton has been a bobby for 18 years and has no plans to take a-rest just yet, even after he officially retires this week.

He was allowed to work three years over the official retirement age due to a law change and will carry on nabbing crooks in Leicestershire as a volunteer special constable.

Roy, who celebrates his 63rd birthday on Friday, said: "I wanted to retire on my birthday so I can set the record for being the oldest bobby in Britain.

"The other officers look at me as a bit of a father figure but they know when it comes to tackling criminals I can still teach them a thing or two.

"I could have gone on until I was 65 but I wanted to leave while I can still chase after the criminals."

Roy has helped put hundreds of criminals behind bars, arresting an average 60 each year — around 1,080 in his career.

And Roy has covered a staggering estimated 51,840 MILES on foot patrol.

He said: "I like to walk the beat as much as possible because you notice more that way than driving all the time.

"People feel safer when they see a bobby on the beat, it makes the police more accessible."

Roy believes more needs to be done to reduce the amount of paperwork officers fill out.

He said: "Unfortunately it's the old story that coppers spend most of their time in the office and not dealing with front-line crime.

"I think it has got worse in the past five or ten years because what with the internet and emails, officers spend even more time in the office.

"All officers have BlackBerries which they carry on the beat, but this all involves training days. And because the technology changes so fast officers are continually needing to take time out to be re-trained."

Roy — who never married and has no children — joined the force in 1992 when he was 45 after a change in the law scrapped the age limit on recruits.

Before becoming a policeman Roy worked as an engineer in a brick-making firm in the village of Ibstock, Leics, where he was born and grew up.

Roy has served in Ibstock for the last ten years working as community beat manager, where he has received two chief constable commendations for bravery.

He was honoured in 1999 after he wrestled a gun off two armed men who were threatening to shoot a man and his family.

Inspector Chris Brown, North West Leicestershire police commander, commended Roy's dedication.

He said "There aren't many officers who want to be out on the beat in all weathers during the day and night at the age of 63. He has been a great beat officer."

Dave Grenz, chairman of Leicestershire Police Federation, added "Constables and sergeants are normally required to retire at 60. An exception was made in Roy's case because of his value as a neighbourhood officer."

Roy is two months older than Britain's longest-serving beat bobby PC Mick Mountain, 62, who has been in the Met for 43 years.

According to the Police Federation there are 124 serving police officers over the age of 60 currently working in the UK.