A MECHANIC who spent his working life with the same council has retired.

Allen Ainsworth joined Wear Valley District Council as an apprentice mechanic when he left Alderman Cape School, in Crook, in 1959.

He worked at the Queen Street depot where he was promoted to transport supervisor and then garage manager.

He earned a degree in motor vehicle studies after taking courses at Durham Technical College, Sunderland College and Darlington College of Technology.

He maintained the council's fleet of vehicles, testing taxis and carrying out MoTs at the garage, which is open to the public.

Mr Ainsworth, who celebrated his 64th birthday yesterday and lives in Etherley Dene, is a keen cyclist.

He said: "I have enjoyed my working life.

"I must have done to have spent it all with Wear Valley District Council.

"I'm looking forward to spending more time with my granddaughters and being able to cycle more, but I'll still be around to help the new person settle in."