ONE hundred years of a carpet dynasty has come to an end after the great-grandson of a dyer stepped down to tackle his garden.

Robin Southall, 60, of Blissgate Road, Callow Hill was the last in a line of Southalls who worked for, successively, Thomas Bond Worth and Sons, Bond Worth and Carpets of Worth.

His great-grandfather worked around the turn of the last century as a dyer of yarn in Stourport, while the three succeeding generations were all sales directors.

"I retired at the end of February after 42 years and it was quite an emotional time.

" I had a presentation of various things from staff and directors - a watch, some golf balls, gardening gloves and a duster to help my wife!"

These gifts give a clue to how he intends spending his retirement, and he has also just returned from the Caribbean.

he said: "My grandfather was with the firm during the war when they were making munitions. My father followed on as a sales director and it was a natural progression for me to join."

Mr Southall, one of whose last contributions to the company was helping in last year's move from Stourport to Kidderminster, added: "They were very happy years.

"We have two sons but they both are in the computer world."