A WORCESTER teacher has said farewell to a city school after spending 16 years there, teaching hundreds of youngsters.

Jill Berry stepped down from her post teaching five and six-year-old pupils at Northwick Manor Infants School.

Mother-of-two Mrs Berry, who has also taught at schools in Rainbow Hill, St John's and Rushwick, said she needed to spend more time looking after her parents, who live in Wales.

"I'll really miss the children at Northwick Manor, because they are lovely," she said.

"But I intend to do some supply teaching for a while, to wean myself off full-time teaching."

Mrs Berry, whose husband is Worcester city councillor Roger Berry, said she would also have more time to devote to her singing and acting. She is the vice-chairman of the Great Witley Operatic Society.

"I've known Jill a long time and taught both her children," said the headteacher, Sue Curphey.

"She has given a lot to the school, particularly in the field of music."

During school assembly yesterday, Mrs Berry was presented with a camera, a teddy with a school scarf around its neck and a figurine.