A PENSIONER from Pendle is believed to have become Britain’s oldest new dad at the age of 78.

Raymond Calvert, of Winewall, near Colne, has fathered a baby boy with his 25-year-old girlfriend Charlotte.

Their child Jamie Rai was born on April 19 at West Yorkshire’s Airedale Hospital, weighing 7lb 1oz.

Before Jamie arrived, 76 year-old Dennis Ealam, of Lincoln, was thought to be the country’s oldest new dad.

However, Raymond, who is now 79, has sold his story to a national newspaper, which has put him forward as the new record holder.

The ex-shop owner and market trader said both he and his young girlfriend could not be happier with their new arrival.

He said: "He's a gift from God - my very own little miracle.

"I didn't actually think at my age that it would be possible to have a child, but he's a beautiful little fella. I feel blessed.”

Raymond already had six children with his wife who died 28 years ago - Gary, 51, Denise, 49, Corinne, 48, Paula, 45, Wayne, 40 and 38-year-old Rachel. He raised them as a single parent after his wife died.

And he has nine grandchildren - Liam, 22, Jake, 21, Wesley and Adam, both 19, Nikita, 17, Josh, 14, Sam and Paris, both 11, and eight-year-old Kaya.

Raymond said he met Charlotte after having a three year relationship with her mum.

However, it was not until Charlotte became friends his 49-year-old daughter Denise a decade ago that she became involved in his life again.

And then love blossomed between the pair around five years ago, he said.

Raymond and Charlotte planned having a child together and were ‘delighted’ when the 25 year-old student fell pregnant.

Charlotte, who has adopted his surname, said: “I realised it would be nice to have a baby Raymond.

“He has such a lot of nice qualities and I thought it would be great to have a baby with him.

"I knew he would be a great dad because he's done such a good job with his own children.”

Charlotte spent over 10 hours in labour before Jamie arrived nine weeks ago.

Raymond, who was at the birth, said they do not pay attention to people who do not approve of their situation.

He said: "Yes, you get some plonkers who say, 'You'll never get to see him grow up.' But what about all the lads who father kids when they're 15 or 16 and then clear off without paying a penny - they never see their children grow up."