ONE of Lancaster City Council's longest serving and best known officers will retire next month.

Alf Wrigley, 52, joined the council in 1980 as a senior engineer. In 1983 he was appointed to the post of deputy chief engineer before taking over the key role he has occupied for the past 12 years as the city council's chief engineer.

During his time at the council Mr Wrigley has overseen many important projects including the Morecambe Sea Defences project over the past 18 years.

Commenting on his time with Lancaster City Council, Mr Wrigley, who lives near Lancaster and is married with two grown-up children and three young grandchildren, said: "I have had some great times with the city council. Much of that has been down to some of the great teams I have had the pleasure of working with over the years, both officers and councillors.

"I think the highlight of my career has been dealing with the problems associated with the Morecambe coast. Seeing first hand the major effects flooding can have in Morecambe really focused my mind on finding a solution to the problems,'' he said. "Working on the coastal protection project has been a rewarding experience.

"In terms of a low point the adverse publicity the council has received over recent years has had its effects on everyone and has often been unwarranted," he added.

Commenting on Alf's contribution to the council chief executive Mark Cullinan said: "Alf will be greatly missed by Lancaster City Council. He is a very sound, reliable, and committed leader who gets on with the job and is extremely effective in what he does."