A STOURPORT firefighter has been keeping it in the family by notching up almost 37 years service - the longest ever at his station.

Not only was Brian Rees's late father a firefighter at Stourport for 28 years but his brother Mike served 32 years before retiring and Mike's son - Brian's nephew - is still going strong after 20 years. Now Brian's daughter Martha, 14, says she wants to join the brigade.

Mr Rees, 57, of Gilgal, said: "I think it has all been due to my father's enthusiasm. He would come home and talk about the fires and that is where me and Mike got interested."

Mr Rees, who as a retained officer has combined being a leading firefighter role with his day job as a driving instructor, has just retired. He said: "As a retained firefighter I carried a bleeper and I haven't missed it going off in the middle of the night at all!"

He said the gadget had a habit of going off when he was shopping or enjoying a meal out with his wife.

"My wife, Janette, has been abandoned in restaurants more times than she cares to remember," he said.

His driving pupils might also appreciate his retirement.

He said: "There were many occasions when I would have to ask a pupil to drive me to the fire station for a shout. I would then have to leave them there and telephone my wife and ask her to pick them up.

"I would always make up the time afterwards, though," he added.