A DAREDEVIL granddad from Newport celebrated his 90th birthday in style – by going up in a glider for the first time.

Frank Sutton, who lives in Ridgeway Avenue with his granddaughter, Kim Rees, and her husband, Matthew, celebrated his landmark on Saturday, by getting in the cockpit and taking off with the South Wales Gliding Club from their airfield near Usk.

Mrs Rees said her grandfather had not been in the habit of taking on daredevil challenges, so his idea had come as a bit of a shock to the family.

“This is not like him at all,” she said.

“He was very ill about 12 months ago but he came through and wanted to celebrate in style.

“Goodness knows what will happen next year.

“His mum passed away when she was 104 so we keep saying he’ll have to come up with something better for the next 12 birthdays.”

She added he had enjoyed the flight.

“It was brilliant,” she said.

“It went really well and he really enjoyed himself.

“He said he couldn’t see very far when he got up there but his eyesight’s not so good anyway. He was happy enough.”