ONE of a team of six sales employees - who have notched up more than two centuries of service between them - is about to finally step down.

Michael Wakeman, 65, is retiring from Carpets of Worth after 33 years, leaving colleagues he grew up with in Stourport.

But the avid walker, bird watcher and photographer should avoid boredom and says he will still see his former workmates around the town.

Mr Wakeman, of Ribbesford Drive, has seen the company move from its Stourport base to Kidderminster and the workforce decline from nearly 1,000 to just 250.