Sittingbourne's 'whistling postman' Dale Howting has delivered 45 years of collecting for charity.

In that time, the town's 'first class' male has collected more than £311,000 for good causes, mainly from sitting on his stationary bike and pedalling furiously.

As he celebrated the milestone, he said: "I'd like to thank everyone who has helped. They are a credit to the area. Not only has everyone been supportive but they have also always given me big smiles. What more can you ask for?"

His favourite perches have been either within the entrance to the Homebase store or tucked away six days a week in Roman Square just off the High Street where he still gets a welcoming cup of tea and breakfast from staff at the Bay Leaf cafe.

The veteran fundraiser raised a record £12,800 last year when the community rallied round after two yobs ran off with his bike and stole £50 of his takings. He has since abandoned the bicycle and invested in an electric mobility scooter.

Former postie Dale, 87, of Goodnestone Road, was given his nickname because he insisted on whistling on his rounds. But when housewife Winnie Moore complained in 1977 about the early morning one-man dawn chorus he was silenced by Postmaster Ken Marsh.

The tragic tale ended up on Esther Rantzen's BBC TV show That's Life. Spurred on by new-found fame, Dale set off on a sponsored 64-mile cycle ride to Margate on his Post Office bike and handed his first cheque for £1,100 to Sittingbourne Carnival Association the following year.

Dale soon found himself nominated for awards which led to him meeting celebrities such as comedian Leslie Crowther, singer Lulu and actresses Jill Gascoigne, Barbara Windsor and Bonnie Langford.

He was later surprised by Cilla Black on ITV's Surprise, Surprise in 1990 when she serenaded him with a specially-written song in his honour.

He has been awarded the British Empire Medal and asked to carry the Olympic Torch. But he says he still has no plans to quit. He has vowed to carry on "as long as the Lord lets me."

Swale charities which have benefited from Dale’s persistence include Demelza Children’s Hospice, the air ambulance, Age UK, Dementia UK, Parkinson’s, the Freedom Centre on Sheppey, Faversham lights, local churches and Sittingbourne FC.