AFTER racking up 44 years with clothing firm Burtons, Gordon Lewis is preparing to put away the clothes-hangers for the last time.

He has spent every working day since leaving school at 16 working for the company, spending most of his career as deputy manager at the York branch, where he is currently the shop's floor manager.

But although Christmas Eve is officially his last day, he is still hoping to continue working in the Coppergate store part-time.

"It is going to be a bit strange not working here after this long, but I am sure I will get used to it," he said.

Since his first day at work in 1959, Gordon, who lives in Woodthorpe, has seen many changes.

He said: "We only sold suits, jackets and raincoats back then, no shirts and ties and, heaven-forbid, we would not have sold denim. Most of the business we did was made-to-measure, and we do not do that at all now."