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One of the oldest PCSOs in the country has vowed to continue pounding the pavements of West Midlands as he celebrates his 70th birthday.

Louis Martindale-Vale (pictured), who recently turned 70 and has been serving the communities of the West Midlands for seven years, is believed to be the oldest frontline PCSO in the country and shows no sign of hanging up his uniform.

Mr Martindale-Vale has proved to be an invaluable policing resource to retailers on Erdington High Street and has helped to devise a retail radio system to help businesses stay in touch to counter shoplifters and thieves.

He started his working career at the age of 17 by enlisting in the Royal Navy after having his first application rejected because he was half-an-inch too short.

He joined the Fleet Air Arm as an aircraft engineer and during the 1960s and 70s travelled across the world, picked up campaign medals in Dar es Salaam and Aden in Yemen before joining the British Aircraft Corporation (now British Aerospace) in Saudi Arabia.

Louis was sworn in as a PCSO in 2007 following a spate of engineering sales jobs, a managerial role at Land Rover as well as working as a golf course groundsman and a gravedigger.

As he approached his 63rd birthday his wife suggested that community policing would "suit you right down to the ground".

He said: "She wasn't wrong…are wives ever wrong?! Seriously though, Erdington High Street has been my office for the last seven years and I love the role. It is great being out and about, helping the public and working with retailers to tackle shoplifters.

"There is nothing more satisfying than helping lock up a pick-pocket and knowing it may well have spared an elderly person the trauma of having their pension snatched or a teenager losing their new phone."

Following his 70th birthday, Louis has decided to go part time, but can still be spotted on the high street between 8am and 5pm Thursday to Saturday, which are generally the busiest times for retailers.

Speaking about his decision to join policing, Louis said: "I knew the role was well within my capabilities and that communication skills and problem solving were more important than youth and fitness. Not that the physical side was an issue - I am a keen mountaineer and canoeist and love nothing more than getting out on the heights in north Wales.

"Erdington High Street is a busy retail area so tackling business crime has always been a priority on my beat. When I joined it would take me an hour to tour all the stores to pass on important information about an emerging shoplifting tactic or description of a prolific offender - so I started looking into a retail radio scheme.

"We now have almost 40 businesses signed up and it's proved a huge success."

Superintendent Jo Smallwood added: "Louis is a shining example of how PCSOs can play an important role in our communities.

"It is great to hear him speak so passionately about the role and, when the day does come that he decides to hang up his uniform for the last time, he'll be sorely missed."

"I am proof that age is no barrier to a fulfilling career later in life and I am sure there are countless people across the West Midlands maybe people who've already 'retired', who would make superb PCSOs."