HE'S walked thousands of miles during his career, but a Basingstoke postman has finally called it a day after 50 years of delivering the mail.

Charlie Sayers, 68, of Lundy Close, Popley, began his career as a messenger boy in Clapham, London.

He said: "I'd done a couple of jobs when I left school. Then my friend became a messenger boy delivering telegrams and I thought I'd try it too.

"I did that for a couple of years and when I was 18 I became a Royal Mail postman. Then they started to build the new towns' and I applied for a transfer to Basingstoke in 1965."

After nearly 50 years, Mr Sayers has seen many changes in the postal service.

He explained: "When I first started, you only really got postmen - now a lot more women work here too.

"The winters also don't seem to be as bad as they used to be. I remember a terrible winter in 1963 when one of our vans was stuck in the snow for six weeks."

Mr Sayers has spent most of his career delivering mail around Basingstoke, before going part-time a few years ago when he began organising post in the sorting office.

Speaking about his retirement, he said: "It will be strange not coming here every day and not getting up at 4am for a 5am start. Over the years, I have worked with a decent bunch of people and I will miss them."

Looking to the future, Mr Sayers plans to spend some more time with his family and has already taken up some new hobbies.

He said: "I enjoy playing the guitar and keyboard and my wife Jean and I have joined the Sports Centre. We've also just bought a puppy."

Mr Sayers is also looking forward to spending time with his 11 grandchildren who live in Basingstoke.

After working his final shift on Friday November 3, Mr Sayers was presented with a gold pocket watch and an engraved silver tankard by his colleagues.

Andy Sims, Basingstoke's delivery cluster manager, said: "Charlie has given us many years of loyal service and there are not many people who can say they have achieved that.

"We will all miss him but he deserves his retirement after all this time.

"He has got lots of plans for the future and we all wish him many years of happiness."