A dedicated Halstead grandfather is retiring after 44 years working for the same firm - without taking a single day off sick.

Andy Wilmott, best known for running more than 630 marathons, has been working for Great Leighs-based company J S Wright and Sons Limited since January 1971.

The company was known as T and AJ Mann, based in Earls Colne at the time, before J S Wright and Sons took the company over.

Before that, he had taken jobs in a warehouse in London, changes the records on a juke box machine as well as doing office work and working in a plastic factory.

He went to part time five years ago - working three days a week.