A Backwell pensioner who has kept his beloved model car since the Thirties was stunned when he wrote to the manufacturer asking for spare parts and was sent them for free.

Colin Barnes, 76, was given the four-inch-long Schuco car as a present from his parents 70 years ago.

The red tin car came complete with steering wheel, a gear stick and forward and reverse gears.

Mr Barnes cherished it throughout his life. When the gears broke earlier this month, he emailed the German manufacturer asking if they could still supply parts.

He did not hear anything for weeks until a box turned up from Schuco with a replacement original engine inside.

Grandfather-of-three Mr Barnes, a retired car part manufacturer from Backwell, said: "My parents gave it to me as a present before the war.

"I took it with me when I was evacuated to a farm in Devon and have had it my whole life really.

"It was such a cleverly made thing at the time compared to the usual metal or wind-up toys.

"It has four gears, a little gear stick and a steering wheel so it can go in circles."

When the new parts arrived, Mr Barnes said: "I couldn't believe it. I hadn't heard anything until the box turned up yesterday."

Schuco sent Mr Barnes the spare parts for free, only charging him £8 for postage and packing from Germany.