A 103-year-old man was stunned when he was told to take his parents with him when he went for a routine hospital eye test.

Joseph Dickinson could not believe it when the appointment card, addressed to "Master Dickinson", asked him to bring his parents who died more than 40 years ago.

Hospital officials apologised to Mr Dickinson and said his date of birth was mistakenly thought to be in 1999 rather than 1899.

Mr Dickinson, from Hartlepool, who served in the Royal Navy during World War One said: "I must be getting younger!"

It didn't upset me, I saw the funny side of it

Joseph Dickinson

The letter arrived early in July and asked Mr Dickinson to attend a routine appointment with consultant ophthalmologist Mr Allchin at University Hospital Hartlepool.

Mr Dickinson's mother Ada died more than 40 years ago aged 81, and his father Frederick passed away 60 years ago.

Mr Dickinson said: "Once a year I go to the hospital to have my eyes tested with the optician Mr Allchin.

City Hospitals Sunderland has apologised

"We both had a good laugh when I showed him my appointment letter. It didn't upset me, I saw the funny side of it."

A spokesman for City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust, which sent him the appointment card, said: "We apologise to Mr Dickinson for the letter he received and trust no offence was taken by the reference to his parents or guardian.

"It is not uncommon for patients of Mr Dickinson's age to be treated nowadays but in this case we suspect that his date of birth was misread as 1999 rather than 1899.

"We wish him continued good health in this century."