The dispute over who is the oldest man in Britain was resolved yesterday when the Guinness Book of Records declared 108-year-old Scotsman David Henderson the official holder of the title.

It emerged that Mr Henderson is three days older than Mr George Cook from Surrey.

A spokesman for the Guinness Book of Records said: ''Following the verification of documentation submitted last Friday, we can confirm that that 108-year old David Henderson is Britain's oldest man.''

Despite his age, Mr Henderson from Laurencekirk, Angus still runs his 1000-acre arable farm from his nursing home. He signs all the cheques and keeps an eye on his nephew, Mr Doug Cargill, 69, who helps run the farm.

The title became vacant after the death of 109-year old Vinson Gulliver. Both Mr Henderson and Mr Cook sent their birth certificates and their telegrams from the Queen to the Guinness Book of Records for examination.

It emerged that Mr Henderson was born on June 14, 1889 and Mr Cook on June 17,1889.

Mr Cargill broke the news to his uncle. He said: ''He was delighted. His first response was, 'It took me 108 years to achieve that'.

''The next thing, he was questioning me about the harvest, asking about the tractors and the combine. He really is in great shape and his mind is still 100%.''

Both 108-year-olds worked outdoors. Mr Cook was a gardener and Mr Henderson still works on his farm which he claims grows the best potatoes in Scotland. He puts his longevity down to three factors; a bowl of porridge every day, never going to bed on a full stomach, and hard work.

In the year both men were born the British empire was at his height. Serbia was also in the news as it tried to free itself from the grip of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the arts, Vincent van Gogh had just finished a self portrait.

Mr Henderson married Elizabeth Cargill in 1919, shortly after the First World War, which he had spent on the Home Front, digging for victory.

He recalled: ''It's funny to think that we were told to produce more food. Now we produce far too much and there are mountains of surplus.''

Mr Henderson's wife died in the 1970s. The couple had no children.

Determined to remain active, he still takes a weekly ride around his farm to check on the crops and the harvest and he may even allow himself a nip of whisky to quietly toast his longevity.

However, he is still five years younger than Ms Lucy Askew, of Essex, who at 113 is the oldest person in Britain.