The countdown to Christmas starts on the first day of December every year for a man who brings out his 47-year-old advent calendar.

Robert Sissons, 58, of Wellington Place, Sandgate, was first given the pop-up Nativity calendar by his parents in December 1969.

At the time he was living in Bearsted near Maidstone and in a bid to re-use it, he carefully opened each door until Christmas Eve every year.

Decades later, the calendar is still in working order and the doors are peeled open each year to reveal a bigger picture.

Mr Sissons, aged 11 at the time, did not find a chocolate surprise behind each door.

Mr Sissons said: “I recorded in my diary that year each picture behind each door as I opened them every day.

“After Christmas, I closed all the doors and kept the calendar pressed between the pages of a very thick book.”

'After Christmas, I closed all the doors and kept the calendar pressed between the pages of a very thick book' - Robert Sissons

He said the calendar has been brought out for show 18 times and has travelled with him when he had worked abroad in France and Spain.

Mr Sissons, who works for Saga’s cruise department, said: “I have got it out every year, although there may have been one or two exceptions when I’ve been working abroad.

“It means a great deal to me.”

When on display, the calendar is often placed on the top of a bookshelf, where guests assume it is a large Christmas card.

The festive calendar has also survived numerous house moves in Dymchurch, Hythe and Sandgate and has been sat on by Mr Sissons' cat.

Although Mr Sissons does not have any children of his own, he said that the calendar will be passed onto other children in his family, who are living in New Zealand.

Do you have an advent calendar older than Mr Sissons'? If so, we’d like to hear from you.

Please telephone 01233 895801 or email folkestoneexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk