Is this the oldest boiler in Shropshire?

They have a life expectancy of 15 years, but Marton Hayes' CRT boiler has been heating his house in Shropshire for nearly 40 years.

Now Mr Hayes reckons his domestic boiler is one of the oldest still working in Shropshire, if not the UK. He says the appliance is still working perfectly heating the three bedroom house in Oswestry and reliably providing hot water to meet all the needs of his family.

Mr Hayes, of Oswestry, got in contact with heating company, Worcester Bosch, to say that his WEC Firefly HD II boiler had been working in his detached home since it was built in 1973 – the year that Richard Nixon was president in the US and the year that The Last of the Summer Wine first hit our television screens.

Mr Hayes says that despite its age, it is still in fantastic working order.

"I think this is a fantastic achievement as the boiler is still performing excellently after 39 years of service. I moved into the house with my wife and four children back in 1986," he said.

"The boiler has been served annually and we have experienced no problems other than the odd replacement spare part."

Mr Hayes, however, is now planning to replace his boiler.

Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support at Worcester, Bosch Group, said the Firefly did not have the output improvements of the latest generation of boilers, but, considering boilers had a life expectancy of about 15 years, this one was very special.

"We were pleased to hear that Mr Hayes' Firefly boiler has given him and his family such good service and are sure the replacement will prove to be just as reliable," he said.

"This is a great example of how our extensive product testing and field trials result in products that are durable and long-lasting."

Do you have a boiler older than Mr Marton's? Contact our newsdesk at newsroom@shropshirestar.co.uk