​He may be the last surviving member of the team that built Britain’s first jet plane, but Joe Tedaldi is still firing on all cylinders.

The former airframe fitter celebrated his 100th birthday at his home in Shurdington, surrounded by family and friends.

Mr Tedaldi was part of an elite team based in a tiny Cotswold hamlet during World War II that changed the military and transport history of the world.

Although his body has slowed down during the seven decades that have passed since then, he said his mind was as alert as ever.

“There is nothing wrong with my brain at all,” he said.

“The only problem now is that when it tells my body to do something, often my body just says it is too tired!

“It’s lovely to still be here with all my family and friends.

“I can’t really believe that I’m a hundred years old. Everything seems like it was only yesterday.”

 He added: “I’m still fine, though, and I’m looking forward to the future.”

During World War II, Gloucestershire was at the centre of a secret programme to build the country’s first jet-powered plane.

Using Sir Frank Whittle’s innovative design, production began in a garage in Cheltenham and later moved to a camouflaged factory in the Cotswold hamlet of Bentham in 1941.

Mr Tedaldi was an experienced 30-year-old fitter working on Hurricane fighters at Brockworth in 1940 when he was asked to take part in the project. He worked on two aircraft, the Gloster E.28/39 and a prototype for the Gloster Meteor – Britain’s first jet-powered fighter.

He was sworn to silence and made to sign the Official Secrets Act. A year later, the Gloster E.28/39 flew for the first time.

Mr Tedaldi said: “It was such a small part of my life looking back, but it is still very much alive in my mind.”

Jo Sobey, Mr Tedaldi’s daughter, said she was proud of her father.

She said: “He is a man with a strong will and a love of his family. He still chairs the bingo at his retirement home and is very active. Obviously he is remembered for his role with the jet plane, but he is also a great father and grandfather and is loved by us all.”