Sweet 16 for Kettering's Philip

He doesn't look like your average 16-year-old - but it's a very special birthday for Kettering's Philip Capps today (Saturday).

The leapling is one of about five million in the world celebrating his February 29 birthday after four long years since he last blew out candles.

Born in 1956, the former Wren Spinney Community School caretaker is unofficially 64 today.

He said: "I love it when the 29th comes around. I normally celebrate on February 28 and get some cards on March 1.

"I get really excited for a leap year."

He said having a birthday on a leap year can be confusing - so much so that four years ago he thought he was 16 when he was actually 15.

This year he was given a free birthday balloon by CC's in Broadway and Royal Tandoori in Rockingham Road, Corby, will be putting on a birthday spread for him tonight.

This year is an emotional birthday for Philip, who grew up in Naseby Road with brothers Michael, Gerald and Gary and sisters Yvonne and Karen.

It's his first official birthday without his mum Miriam, who died at the age of 87 in March last year.

He said: "This is the first time she won't be here with me and I'm trying to be brave.

"It's a special day and a special birthday and I wish she was here to see it."

The odds of being born on February 29 are 1 in 1,461, or 0.068 per cent.

Pope Paul III was born on Leap Day in 1468, as was American rapper Ja Rule in 1976.