A former speedway champion will celebrate his 90th birthday tomorrow.

Keighley man Norman Hargreaves - originally from Cross Roads - enjoyed a spectacular speedway career in the 1940s and 50s.

Mr Hargreaves, who now lives in Ingrow with his wife Molly, says that speedway riding was his passion and he talks proudly about his friends from the racing scene and his own glories.

He explains: "Speedway was racing round a track with no brakes. I absolutely loved it, it was my life for about ten years.

"I've been to hospital a few times after a couple of crashes but it didn't put me off.

"My ambition was to ride for the Belle Vue team, which I did - I finished up there when I was about 27."

Mr Hargreaves was brought up in Cross Roads and went on to become an electrician.

After the war, he joined Wigan and later the Fleetwood Flyers - a team he went on to captain.

His best year was 1949 when he went unbeaten in four league matches.

In 1948 he broke the track record at Birmingham and even beat Australian International Graham Warren, who was the sensation of the season at the time.

Mr Hargreaves rode for Belle Vue in about ten league matches during 1952.

Among other riders he beat throughout his career were former world champion Jack Young (Australia) and Aub Lawson (Australia) - both of whom are regarded as all-time greats.

After his retirement, Mr Hargreaves still took a keen interest in the sport and visited Bradford speedway regularly from about 1954-57.

Family friend Bill Walsh, who sent his birthday congratulations to Mr Hargreaves from New Zealand, says: "When I lived in Cross Roads I was a speedway fan. On one occasion round about 1951/2 when Norman was captain of the Fleetwood Flyers his team was competing against the Halifax Dukes.

"The village of Cross Roads emptied that evening with a chartered Bronte bus and several cars and vans making the trip. Norman was a very popular chap in the village and he is a very special person."

Mr Hargreaves and his wife Molly have a son and a daughter and grandchildren.

Mr Hargreaves is having a quiet birthday celebration, with family members and friends popping in to see him throughout the day.