ONE of Worcestershire's longest serving councillors has announced his retirement.

Coun Tom Wareing, who represents Redditch on the county council, is to step down at the end of the current term, which finishes in May.

The 78-year-old was first elected as a Labour member of the Hereford-Worcester County Council in 1973 before joining the Tories in 1976.

He then returned to County Hall in 1997.