A certificate and painting were presented to Upton town councillor John Shipp at Tuesday night's meeting to mark his 40 years' continuous service with the authority.

Making the presentation, mayor Roger Barker said: "He's always been a very active councillor, acting far above and beyond the duties required of anybody on a council."

Coun Shipp joined what was then Upton Parish Council in 1961, when he had just taken over his father's mechanics business on New Street.

He spoke of his affection for the town.

"I've enjoyed being on the council and I've been able to do a bit more since I retired," he said.

Coun Shipp also paid tribute to his friend and colleague John Allison, who retired from the council having also completed 40 years' service.

"We went to school together and we were on the council for a long time," he said. "He was a very good talker. I don't mind doing things but I don't much like talking."

As well as serving the town council in various different roles, Coun Shipp is also on the management committee of Malvern Hills Citizens Advice Bureau and chairman of the village hall committee in his native Severn Stoke, co-ordinating renovation efforts in the wake of last year's floods.