Alfred Finnegan, from Llanglydwen in Carmarthenshire, had cataract surgery in October, shortly after he had been told he would have to wait six months for the operation.

I'm looking forward to getting some boots and going into the garden next year Alfred Finnegan

The World War I veteran had initially been told he would not receive preferential treatment because of his age.

Since the operation - which he said went "very well" - Mr Finnegan has been working through a pile of books he had been unable to read.

A keen nature-lover, he has now raised his sights to the great outdoors.

"I'm looking forward to getting some boots and going into the garden next year," he said.

His love of horticulture stemmed from his time in Australia, when he used to walk through the botanical gardens in Melbourne.

His niece Kathy Page - who looks after him - revealed he had always particularly liked the spring.

"In a couple of months, the bulbs will be coming through the ground, which he enjoys," she said.

"The improvement in his eyesight has been immense," she added.

Mr Finnegan enjoys reading

A year ago, an eye test revealed Mr Finnegan could only read type of 36 point and above - after the operation, he can now read 14 point.

"Reading has been his life and he is pleased to be able to read again," she said.

However, Mrs Page said her uncle could be prone to darker moods, when he can get despondent.

"He doesn't believe he is that old," she said.

"He thought we had got his age wrong at his last birthday."

However, she said he still seemed as fit as ever.

"There is nothing wrong with his general constitution," she said.

"When he fell off his chair and hit his head recently, we took him to hospital because we were worried about concussion.

"The nurse said he had the blood pressure of an athlete," she added.