A MAN who cycled more than 90,000 miles to work in all weathers has got off his bike after being laid off from the job he held for 48 years.

Brian Stratford has braved wind, rain, and dark winter mornings and nights to get to work at the Royal Worcester Porcelain factory at Diglis, from his home in Hallow.

The 64-year-old was set to retire in November when he turned 65, but enforced redundancies due to poor sales meant more than 100 employees lost their jobs at ther china works on Friday.

"It's kept me fit and it wasn't very often I didn't cycle. I wasn't put off by the weather, or the winter," said Mr Stratford, after clocking off for the last time on Friday.

He said he had got through several bikes over the years.

"I started at the factory when I was 17 in the colour shop department, and I've enjoyed my time there,"

"I made a lot of friends, and there were a lot of tearful people on Friday," he said.

"I felt proud of the work I did. It's sad to see it all go."

If Mr Stratford cycled the eight-mile round trip, five days a week for 50 weeks a year, he would have cycled 96,000 miles in his 48-year career.

And he can recall only taking off the odd day.

"It's an amazing achievement," said his wife, Wendy.

"If he wasn't home by five past five I started to get worried and think he had an accident."

Mr Stratford had lived in Hallow since he was 11, and had attended the school there, as his mum had done before him.

And now some of his grandchildren attend the primary school.

"I want to cycle to work when I grow up as well," said his eight-year-old grandson, Aaron.

"I'll keep on cycling, but the garden's going to keep me busy I think," said Mr Stratford.