Tony Bowman, 80, overcomes heart attacks to hold six of eight British sprinting records for his age group

Tony Bowman can do the 100 metres in 15.16 seconds - only 5.58 seconds slower than Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt's world record over the distance.

The octogenarian, who lives with wife Betty, 82, on The Poplars in Guiseley, also holds records in the outdoor 400 metres (84.45 seconds), indoor 200 metres (33.03 seconds), indoor 60 metres (9.39 seconds), outdoor 80 metres hurdles (15.21 seconds) and indoor 60 metres hurdles (11.03 seconds). His times in the hurdles are also European records, with his 60-metre time over the jumps only 0.3 seconds off the world record in his age group.

Tony Bowman with his medals

Mr Bowman, who names former sprint hurdler Colin Jackson and distance runner Derek Ibbotson as people he admires, is now targeting the outdoor 200-metre and the indoor 400-metre records to complete his set. He already holds sprint records in other age groups.

On his success, Mr Bowman said: "It is a great feeling because over the last ten years I have had a couple of heart attacks and had a couple of stents fitted. I also had atrial flutter - which was my heart going crazy - but it sorted itself out.

"I am feeling as fit as a fiddle at the moment."

Mr Bowman, who turned 80 last September, said one of his ambitions is to run the 100 metres when he is aged 100, and then live another 20 years.

A former probation officer, he enjoyed athletics success as a schoolboy before his interest dropped away. But it returned with a vengeance aged 42.

"I love the sport", he said. "There is a great feeling being fit. I still do a lot of dancing, I eat what I like and drink, but not too much.

"The adrenaline rush when you are standing at the start of a sprint is incredible. I train every day in all weathers, I still play tennis - I am probably one of the fittest 80-year-olds in the country."

Arthur Kimber, chairman of British Masters Athletic Federation, and a friend of Mr Bowman, said: "Tony has been setting records for years. He is setting records in the 80 age group because he has recently turned 80.

"He competes in international championships for the British team and has won quite a lot of international medals in European and world competitions.

"He is a very competitive chap but he is also a very friendly chap. He beats people or they beat him, but they are all congratulating each other at the end. He is a very easy bloke to get on with."

Mr Bowman is aiming to compete in the European Masters Indoor Championships in Italy next month and the World Masters Track and Field Championships in Australia in October.