ONE of Darlington's longest-established businesses has finally left the hands of the family which ran it for 83 years.

WM Sykes (Electrical Contractors) was set up in 1919 after electrician William Sykes moved to the town from Huddersfield.

The business moved from the Commercial Street area to Bondgate about 70 years ago and has been there ever since.

The original Mr Sykes' sons, William, Lawrence and James, took over the running of the company when their father died in 1946.

Morris Sykes, the third generation family member and son of William Junior, joined the company in 1952, aged 15. Last week he retired after 50 years of following in his relatives' footsteps, leaving the company in hands outside the family for the first time.

Aubrey McCormick, who has worked for the firm for more that 20 years, has taken over the helm.

However, the firm's name will remain the same for the sake of its regular customers.

Mr Sykes, who is hoping to spend more time with his family, while also enjoying his hobby of reading, said: "We have hundreds of customers in the town and they are used to us. I'm hoping to get out more and more.