2:08pm UK, Thursday August 11, 2005

An Egyptian is claiming to be the oldest man in the world.

Mohammed al Wasimy says he was born in 1875, making him 130 years old, although there has been no official confirmation of his claim.

180 world's oldest man Mohammed al Wasimy

Mohammed al Wasimy

He lives in a small village north of Cairo with his family.

Mr Wasimy married his wife Fatima in 1950 when he was 75 years old and she was just 14. She is now 69 and they say they are very happy together.

The old man's mind is still sharp.

He says he can remember when Khidiwi Tawfig ruled Egypt between 1879 and 1892 and he says 5kg of meat in the old days cost just one penny.

He never served in the army. Instead, he says, he spent his time reading and memorising the Koran.

Mr Wasimy attributes his longevity to his simple life, growing his own vegetables and rearing his own animals.

"I have never been to a doctor in all my life," he says

According to the Guinness Book of Records the oldest man alive is Puerto Rican Emiliano Mercado Del Toro, a mere youngster at 113.

The oldest authenticated person ever is French woman Jeanne Louise Calment, who died on August 4, 1997 aged 122 years and 164 days.