VETERAN councillor Sam Tombe has been presented with an award for long service and has declared he has no intention of quitting - at the age of 81.

Coun Tombe represents the Normanby ward on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and has been presented with a commemorative plaque as the longest-serving member of the River Tees Port Health Authority.

He has twice been chairman of the authority, and is the only surviving member since it was formed in 1973. He was presented with the plaque by the chairman, Middlesbrough councillor Oliver Johnson.

Coun Tombe has long held links with the sea, having served as an apprentice marine engineer at Harland and Wolff shipyards in his home town of Belfast, and reaching the rank of lieutenant during six years' service as an engineer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Chief Port Officer Stuart Milner said: "It's an honour for Sam that's well deserved. During my time with the authority, I've always found Sam available and willing to give sound and sensible advice, and long may that continue."

Coun Tombe, who has had 28 unbroken years of service as a borough councillor and represented seven different wards, added: "I'm absolutely delighted with the plaque - it'll have pride of place in my home."