VETERAN Bridport roadsweeeper Pete Clarke has finally hung up his broom.

After braving all weathers to keep the town centre spick and span for the past 18 years he retired on his 65th birthday this week.

Disabled Mr Clarke - who has a shortened left leg and the use of only one arm - joined West Dorset's street cleaning team in 1987 after being made redundant from Bridport Gundry.

He said: "It was very different when I began. I worked eight hours a day in all weathers and you had to stay out there even if you had finished your round.

"Often you would just sweep the bits you had already done until it was time to go home.

"Sometimes when it rained my feet got soaking and I would be walking in the water all day - it was really hard work."

But Mr Clarke said there was plenty to compensate for the tough bits - like meeting people and making lots of friends on his round.

He also found the occasional bank note and 'stacks' of loose change dropped by late-night revellers.

Mr Clarke was born with disabilities to his left arm and leg which made shovelling up the litter and autumn leaves even tougher. And the cart got pretty heavy as it filled up, he said.

He said: "I miss it already - I've got no one to talk to now.

"What I would really like is a part-time job somewhere."

Mr Clarke, who lives at Vernon's Court, received a letter of thanks from West Dorset Council's services manager Jerry Cranmer.

And his immediate boss Phil Hansford also paid tribute to him this week.

He said: "He was out every morning in all weathers and had a great relationship with the people in the town and his co-workers.

"He was a traditional street cleaner with a barrow and broom - the last of his kind. It is mainly mechanical now for efficiency and speed.

"Even with the use of only one arm he still managed to do a really good job."