A NEWENT road will be named in memory of 103-year-old Bert Bullock.

The new road leading to affordable houses off Foley Road will be named as Bullock Way.

Mr Bullock, who died earlier this year, was a popular resident in the town.

He was a Two Rivers Housing tenant and now the housing association want to name the road in his honour.

Known affectionately as ‘Uncle Bert’, Mr Bullock was born in Westbury, Wiltshire in 1912 and began working as a butchers’ boy after moving to Huntley to live with his grandmother when he was 12.

His duties included helping in cattle drives, on foot, driving cattle from Newent to Huntley. His main job was to block off lanes to ensure none of the cattle escaped.

He moved on from this to become postman and also worked with Forest Products marrying Nancy in 1937 and moving to Newent to live, where their son Edmund was born.

After volunteering to join the Royal Air Force during the Second World War he had to wait almost 70-years to receive his war medals.

When staff at the housing association were asked to suggest road names for the new affordable homes at Foley Road, they were keen to name one in his memory.

Forest of Dean District Council has now approved the suggestion, and Bullock Way will serve as a lasting tribute to this popular local resident.

Garry King, chief executive of Two Rivers Housing Association, said naming the road after Uncle Bert was a lovely outcome and added: “Bert was a lovely man and it is very fitting to have a new road named after such an iconic member of the Newent community.”