He made his name with one small step – becoming the first man to ever walk on the moon during the historic landings of July 1969.

But world famous astronaut Neil Armstrong, now 80, made a “giant leap” into Shrewsbury, it has emerged today. Mr Armstrong, who shot to fame during the moon mission with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, spent a quiet lunch at the Osteria da Paolo Italian restaurant last Saturday as part of a brief visit to the town.

He was in Shropshire with friends to visit Longnor-based mechanical clock repairer Richard Higgins, who then recommended they had lunch at the Shrewsbury town centre restaurant.

And despite seeking to avoid the spotlight over the past few decades, Mr Armstrong spent an hour-and-a-half at the Hills Lane restaurant and happily posed with star-struck restaurant staff for photographs before travelling to London.

Apart from Mr Armstrong’s party of 12, restaurant staff said about a dozen further people were in the restaurant at the time and believe only one couple recognised him.

Massimo Vitale has run the restaurant for the past 15 years.

He said that the venue had hosted footballers and magicians before, but said Mr Armstrong was easily the most famous person to visit.

He said: “Richard Higgins is a friend of mine and he was dealing with a friend of Mr Armstrong’s as part of his mechanical clock repair business.

“They came up to Shropshire to visit his workshop, and Richard suggested they came here for lunch.

“I got to meet Mr Armstrong, and I spoke to him and served him.

“He doesn’t sign any autographs but he was a very pleasant man and said if he was in Shrewsbury again he would call in for a meal,” he added.

“Aside from his party of 12 there were only another 12 people in the restaurant as lunch time is usually pretty quiet.

“We think that one other couple in the restaurant recognised him while he was here.

“He is the most famous person we have had in the restaurant and we have had a few.”

Mr Vitale said: “Earlier in the year Wayne Sleep came in every night when he was performing in the town on recommendation of staff at Theatre Severn.

He added: “We have had footballers and magicians in too.”