Cradley Primary School was saying goodbye to its headmaster this week.

Today (Friday) will be David Townsend's last day at the school after holding the position for 11 years.

A special assembly was to be held in his honour this morning and a gathering of friends, colleagues and governors took place on Wednesday evening.

Mr Townsend, who began his teaching career 34 years ago, was deputy head at a middle school in his home-town of Redditch before becoming headmaster at Cradley.

However, he has no plans to finish teaching and he will be teaching part-time at Nunnery Wood School in Worcester.

"I am looking forward to returning to the classroom and spending more time with my family, but it will be very sad to leave Cradley, I will miss it a lot. The kids here are great, and the parents and governors are smashing as well," said Mr Townsend.

His place will be taken by The Rev. Dawn Hyatt, who takes over at the school in the New Year.

She comes from Bromyard and she is currently deputy head of Lea Primary School, near Ross-on-Wye.