A PE teacher who dedicated 29 years of his life to Alcester Grammar School has finally hung up his boots.

David Cowell, former head of PE, started at the Birmingham Road school when he moved up from Sussex to live nearer his wife's parents.

He said he felt immediately welcome in the town and settled in at the school very quickly.

"People say it's unbelievable that I've been at the same school for so long, but it really is such a lovely school," he explained.

And while Mr Cowell said the greatest change had been the increasing numbers of pupils at the school he added: "The pupils themselves have changed very little over the years. In every class you have a variety of characters.

"The school has managed to retain that 'family' feeling and there has always been very little of 'us' and 'them' in terms of staff and pupil relationships."

Mr Cowell said he would miss close friends at the school, but said he receives a "lovely" welcome from staff and pupils whenever he returns.

And he is still a regular visitor, helping organise the county's Cross Country Championships which take place at the school.

He added: "It's also taking some time to clear my desk. After 29 years of teaching at the same school I've accumulated quite a bit of junk."