Samuel Lyons has finally celebrated his barmitzvah - at the age of 85.

The then JFS pupil had been preparing for his induction into adulthood before the Second World War in London's East End, but when the Blitz closed the school, he was evacuated to the country. Although he returned to the capital and had lessons with a tutor known as Rabbi Scratchy, the barmitzvah fell by the way.

A couple of years ago Mr Lyons attended a Pesach Seder run by Islington Chabad. Its leader, Mendy Korer, is also rabbi of Sandys Row Synagogue in the East End, where Mr Lyons is a member.

Last Shabbat, Mr Lyons came to the synagogue on the rabbi's vague promise that "something big was going to happen".

When he arrived, the "something big" turned out to be his own barmitzvah. Called to the Torah, he recited the blessings over it for the first time.

"A lot of chaps of my crowd never had their barmitzvahs," said Mr Lyons, who put on tefillin for the first time on Monday. "But if I could do it, anyone can."