A "GENTLEMAN" car salesman is giving up his passion after 36 years of dedication.

George Wood started his career in sales at Rycroft, formerly Croft and Blackburn, in Stockton, in January 1965.

Mr Wood started selling agricultural vehicles, and then sold Fiats and Vauxhalls before the garage become a Mercedes-Benz dealership in 1976.

Since then, he has sold cars to Roy "Chubby Brown" Vasey and Darlington businessman George Reynolds. One loyal customer from Thirsk has bought 20 cars from him over the years.

Mr Woods was at Croft and Blackburn when it became the first dealership in the country to offer a minimum £2,000 part-exchange to customers, and he has some advice for anyone wanting to take his place as the king of car sales.

He said: "Never prejudice anyone on appearance, accent, sex or the car they drive up in.

"And always treat everyone the same whether they are spending £1,000 or £25,000 on a car."

Mr Wood is retiring to spend time with his wife June and his three daughters Lesley, Nicola and Karen.

Steve Chisholm, Ryecroft's general sales manager, said: "George is an absolute gentleman and really will be missed by us all.

"He is the first one in every morning and the last home every night, and has always been on hand to guide new staff members with his quiet words of wisdom."