A man who completed his PhD at the age of 70 is encouraging the older generation to go back to university.

Geoff Freed, of Homestead Court, Barnet, completed a distant learning course in metaphysics at Rochville University from 2000 to 2008, receiving his PhD at the age of 70.

Since then, he has continued to carry out research to update his original thesis, and eventually hopes to move into neuroplasticity, to find out more about how the brain can repair itself.

Mr Freed, who worked in forensics for the Metropolitan Police from 1976 until 2000, said he hoped it would encourage others to study.

He said: “Your brain doesn’t have to go to sleep, it can take in as much capacity as it wants. You can get there. It also gives you a goal, something to wake up for. I find research very exciting. It really gives me a spark to get up in the morning.

“The thing about a degree, the time you have done your dissertation and thesis you are already out of date. You can see things developing all the time, especially in my field of quantum physics.”

Mr Freed became interested in metaphysics while carrying out counselling sessions, in which he holds a degree from Glasgow University.

He added: “My main message is anyone can do it if they put their mind to it. You are never too old to keep active, and compete with younger people to get a degree. At the age of 76 I am still researching and only now getting recognition.”