A ROSSENDALE council worker who is thought to be the longest serving employee at the authority has decided to down tools and take early retirement.

Joiner Rodney Sellars has worked at the council for 44 years -- since he was taken on as an apprentice at the age of just 15.

Since this time, Rodney, 59, has has worked on a number of projects in the borough including helping to build some of the Valley's council houses in the Tunstead Estate of Stacksteads.

John Holt, head of housing technical services, said: "Rodney has been an excellent colleague and employee for Rossendale Borough Council.

"He's very conscientious and I will be surprised if he ever has been late coming to work. His knowledge is going to be very much missed by the maintenance service because he has built up a knowledge that is second to none.

"If anybody needs to know anything about the job then they automatically go to Rodney because they know he'll have the answer."

He added: "I don't know of anybody else that has ever worked at the council for such a long time which is a great achievement and he is to receive a long service award."

Rodney, who lives with his wife, June, 52, in Mill Street, Bacup, and has one daughter Mandy, 29, who lives in Hapton, will be making the most of his spare time by playing snooker and enjoying walking in the countryside.

Rodney, said: "I will miss everybody here but I have done my working stint now and I am ready for putting my feet up. But it's still nice to be in Rossendale and see that my work is there, more than 30 years after it was made."

Rodney was presented with a Rossendale Borough Council Long Service award, a DVD player, WH Smith vouchers and a gold watch.