A proud grandfather is beaming with joy after his soccer sensation grandson Theo Walcott became the toast of England.

But former Carterton mayor Joe Walcott then admitted he had been forced to miss his grandson's finest footballing moment.

Mr Walcott — like millions of others — was unable to watch England's vital 4-1 World Cup qualifying win against Croatia in Zagreb because it was only screened by satellite channel Setanta.

But the 82-year-old, of Queen's Road, Carterton, said he was delighted by the Arsenal winger's match-winning performance against Croatia and would be ringing him to say "well done".

Mr Walcott said: "I don't have Setanta, so I had to make do with watching the goals on the BBC, but I knew beforehand he would do all right because he is such a dedicated young man.

"Some of the papers say he has come of age, but I thought that happened a long time ago.

"He was playing his natural game and when he accelerates past a defender it gives the other players in the team a lift.

"Theo will get lots of attention for this, but I don't think it will go to his head because he is such a level-headed young man — he didn't let it go to his head when he was picked for the World Cup squad at such a young age.

"We talk to one another all the time and we are very proud of him."

Mr Walcott and his wife Loretta were invited by Theo to celebrate his 82nd birthday at a party at Arsenal's Emirates stadium last month, when the team played a Champions League qualifier against Dutch side FC Twente.

"Theo has a box at the Emirates and we had a lovely party — he played well that night too," explained Mr Walcott.

"Then we went to stay at his house outside London."

Earlier this year, Don Walcott, Theo's father, helped to raise more than £700 for charities by organising an auction at the St George's Day reception at Carterton town hall.

And in 2006, Theo drew a crowd when he switched on Carterton's Christmas lights. He then went for dinner at his grandparents' house and left to go back to London to be ready for training.

Two years ago, Mr Walcott was awarded the MBE at Buckingham Palace for services to West Oxfordshire and the local community.

After serving as Carterton's mayor, as well as vice-chairman of West Oxfordshire District Council between 2000 and 2002, Mr Walcott became chairman of the district authority until 2006.

Mr Walcott was in the Royal Air Force for more than 34 years, before finishing his service at RAF Brize Norton.