A CARPET fitter who has worked for Boyes in Darlington for 35 years has retired.

Gordon Simpson was given a gold wrist watch and card signed by the shop staff, before being taken out for some leaving drinks by his friends.

Mr Simpson, who was brought up in Scarborough, moved to Darlington to work in the Boyes store in 1970.

He spent three years on the shop floor before deciding to go freelance, but continued to work mainly for Boyes. He said: "It has been the best 35 years of my life and I have made a lot of friends.

"I think I have been to every town and village you can think of round here.

"Last year, I did a job in Ullswater in the Lake District, but I have also worked in Sunderland and York. You meet different people every day and you never know where you are going to be next."

Mr Simpson celebrates his 65th birthday and his 15th wedding anniversary next week. He and his wife Audrey have seven children and 12 grandchildren between them and live in Haughton.

Mr Simpson said he was looking forward to retirement.

He plans to do more gardening, and enjoy watching cricket and football.

The couple are also planning a retirement holiday in Malta.