CLITHEROE council's town clerk is to swap official duties at the town hall for the thrill of the open road Down Under.

For John Wells, who has been council clerk for the last six years, retires later this month and will start a new life on the Gold Coast of Australia.

While admitting he will miss the Ribble Valley, the keen biker said he was now looking forward to cruising the open roads on his Suzuki.

John, 60, and Glenys Wells, will head to Australia on March 28, for their new life in New South Wales, where they will be much closer to their daughter, Sarah, 34, who works as a midwife in Perth.

The couple decided to spend their retirement in Australia after spending several enjoyable holidays there in recent years.

Mr Wells, a former members' services manager at Burnley Council, who lives at Henfield Close, Clayton-le-Moors, said: "I'll look back on some good times in Clitheroe, but I'm really looking forward to starting a new life in Australia.

"I'm particularly excited about getting my bike out when I'm over there. It'll make a change from here where it only comes out of the garage a couple of days a year because of the wet weather."

Looking back on an eventful six years, he said the highlights were the two torchlight processions and Clitheroe Castle firework displays that commemorated the Millennium and the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

He added: "I was lucky to be involved in organising both of those wonderful events because my predecessor didn't have any such large celebrations to enjoy."

Mrs Wells, who works at Thwaites Brewery, said: "We are a bit nervous as it is a big step and we will miss our friends and colleagues dearly, but we are absolutely convinced that we are doing the right thing.

"We are looking forward to relaxing in the sunshine and enjoying the mild winters and spending more time with our daughter who is a midwife out there."

Mr Wells's final meeting as clerk is the full meeting of Clitheroe Town Council, to be held at Clitheroe Town Hall, in Church Street, on Monday, starting at 7pm.