A REDCAR and Cleveland councillor celebrated 25 years of unbroken service on the council this week.

Coun Steve Kay was first elected to the then Langbaurgh Borough Council on May 3, 1979, and has represented the Lockwood ward, which includes his home village of Moorsholm, ever since.

He has held a number of leading council roles and was mayor in 1984-5. He is the current leader of the Independent group on the council and is cabinet member for education.

When he is not involved in council work, Coun Kay enjoys accompanying his wife, Susan, on rambles and visits to the family cottage in Normandy.

He said: "I have served longer than anyone else at present on the council. One or two others started with me but have had breaks in their council careers.

"I suppose the council and I have achieved our silver wedding anniversary. And I must admit that, after my family, my council work is my main love."

Coun Kay said his most satisfying achievement as a councillor was his role in extending the wheelie bin system throughout the borough.

"My greatest flop was failing to get Kilton Tip flattened and reclaimed," he admitted. "It is still there, a blot on the landscape, mocking me - although I did have more luck with Lingdale Tip, which was reclaimed during my mayoral year."

Coun Kay's patch covers some of the more remote villages on the North York Moors.

He said: "Half my ward is moorland and my colleagues say that my continued success at the polls is because there are more sheep than people voting for me!

"But, joking aside, I have tried never to forget the people I represent.

"God willing, I can soldier on for many more years."