A popular postman has retired after more than 43 years on the same rural round.

Paul Higgins’ last day delivering the mail in Harewood End, Much Birch and Llanwarne was on Friday, June 10, having first started way back at the end of the 1970s.

He started the day at Hereford’s sorting office, before heading out to the villages for one final time.

Paul said he didn’t see it as a job, as he had made so many friends from his rounds.

He was invited to Llanwarne village’s jubilee party where he was presented with a leaving present.

And he told the gathering he would be very sad to leave after so many years.

Paul was known to check in on vulnerable and lonely residents during bad weather and the pandemic, and helped deliver prescriptions.