"IT'S not like going to work, it's like spending time with your family," said Ken Oliver of his 31-year career with the fire service.

Sub-Officer Ken, from Bromsgrove's Windsor Street station, retired from the fire service last week and is looking forward to doing jobs around the house, having weekends away and spending time with his first grandchild, who is due in July.

"I will miss the service a lot. It is a wonderful job where you never know what each day will be like and there is such a comradeship amongst the lads," he said.

"Particularly at the Bromsgrove station, it really is like a family," he added.

One of Ken's most vivid work memories is dealing with the 1997 M42 pile-up, where three people were killed and 100 injured. Eighty cars were on fire and Ken had to call on all his skills and experience to deal with such an horrific situation. "But despite some upsetting memories, happy memories of spending time with the lads will be what I take with me," he added.