By Phillip Cogger

newsdesk@essnmedia.co.uk

Getting up at 4am to do a paper round often proves too tough a task for 14 and 15-year-olds.

But it is no problem for 75-year-old Norman Chapman - who is believed to be Croydon's oldest paperboy.

Come rain or shine, he jumps on his bike to make sure residents in South Croydon and East Croydon get their morning news.

Norman single-handedly takes care of all the papers delivered by Balmoral News, in South End, South Croydon - seven days a week.

"People have said to me 'you're a bit old for this'," he admitted.

"But I say age has nothing to do with it.

"Having worked all my life I don't want to sit in front of the TV or computer."

He has been a paperboy for the last 20 years and has no trouble completing his daily five-mile round.

Even when he finishes he never allows himself to put his feet up - preferring to head for his allotment or play golf on the putting green he built himself in the garden of his home in Waldronhyrst, South Croydon.

Hitesh Patel, manager of Balmoral News, says employing Norman is a far better bet than taking on a teenager who may struggle to make it out of bed on time.

"He's the most reliable person I've ever seen," he said.

"Norman has the most professional timing and attitude.

"He's also such a nice chap, remaining in a good mood even at that time of the morning.

"Some younger boys can be unreliable in comparison to him. They may not turn up one day and won't tell us they're not coming in".

Even if Norman has a problem with his bike his customers will not suffer - as he has a spare for just such an occasion which he made himself from bicycle parts.

Going out in all weather conditions doesn't bother him at all as he makes due preparations for wind, rain and snow.

He explained: "I've got a pair of golfer's trousers and a Russian fur hat that soaks up the rain.

"I've had them for donkey's years."

Norman, who has lived in Waldronhyrst for 40 years, started out working for his father as an apprentice cabinet maker, then went on to run a cabinet making business with his brother.

He has been married to wife Therri for 55 years and admits she worries about him cycling with so much traffic in Croydon.

A perfectionist when it comes to the condition of his papers, he makes sure they are sealed in a plastic bag whenever it rains.

So his customers will be relieved to hear he has no plans to hang up paper bag any time soon.

He explained: "You've got to have something to look forward to apart from the old pine box."