WHEN Albert Winstanley purchased his first push bike in 1930, cinema audiences were being wowed by the first talking movies, Hitler was yet to become Chancellor of Germany and the Western World was in the midst of the Great Depression.

Now 75 years and nearly 750,000 miles on, Albert, in his 90th year, is still in the saddle enjoying every minute he spends on the long and winding road.

And he will be honoured as one of more than 1,000 local sportsmen and women featured on the 85ft Spirit of Sport sculpture to be built on the De Havilland Way roundabout near the Reebok Stadium.

The war veteran, who now lives in Bradshaw Brow, Bradshaw, began cycling as a means of travelling to work as a clerk at Fieldings Solicitors, in Bolton town centre, from his former Halliwell home.

But he soon developed a passion for the sport that would last him a lifetime.

Since then, Albert has toured extensively throughout Britain, France and Spain, and is busy planning his latest excursion around the Emerald Isle when he crosses the Irish Sea to visit his daughter later this year.

And despite retiring from his job as a engineer more than 25 years ago, he still summons up the energy to cycle more than 5,000 miles every year.

He said: "Cycling has been a major part of my life.

"Unfortunately, cycle touring is in the doldrums these days in Bolton and cyclists are now only interested in how fast they can go."

Shortly after taking up his beloved hobby, Albert began to combine cycling with another of his passions, photography, contributing articles and pictures to most of the cycling magazines and publications of the day.

He served in the Army throughout the Second World War but still found time to indulge his love for cycling.

More recently, he contributed to a Radio Four programme on this year's 75th anniversary celebrations of the Youth Hostel Association, whose outlets have provided him with many a welcome resting place on his travels.

Despite his age, Albert hopes to enjoy a few more years on his bike. He said: "The roads are much busier today but I would still urge people to take up cycling. It is a great way of getting fit and seeing the world around you."

The Spirit of Sport sculpture will be covered by more than 1,000 panels featuring pictures of sportsmen and women from the borough, including the People's Choice, a list of sporting heroes chosen by the readers of the Bolton Evening News. It is due for completion by the end of the year.