Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro turned 90 on Saturday. On the eve of his birthday, thousands of Cubans gathered in Havana's seafront, dancing to the tunes of Latin beats. 

The birthday celebrations began on Friday night with a free concert beside Havana's seafront Malecon. Then just before midnight, the music and dancing stopped, with a countdown to the moment Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro turned 90 year- old.

A giant screen showed highlights of Castro's life. No-one here was born when he created Cuba's socialist revolution and while many are hoping for change, Fidel Castro remains El Comandante, the commander in chief.

In many ways though these are low key celebrations, with no major rallies or parades planned.

He was seen in public at the Communist Party Congress in April, looking old and frail but mentally alert and bringing tears to the eyes of some as he acknowledged that time for him was running out.

In his prime, Fidel was famed for his love of big fat Cuban cigars. And they don't get any bigger or fatter than this one.

Timed to coincide with the celebrations, one of Cuba's leading cigar rollers has set a new Guinness Book Record, for the world's longest cigar exactly 90 meters in length for Fidel Castro's 90th birthday.