A former town councillor who spent more than three decades serving the people of Aylsham has said he decided to stand down to give someone else a chance at the job.

Mike Bush was 26 when he first joined Aylsham Town Council in 1978. He resigned from the post last month. Over the last 34 years, he has worked with seven town clerks and been both chairman and vice chairman of the council.

He was thanked for his service and presented with an engraved tankard by town councillors during their September meeting.

Mr Bush said: '34 years is a long time for one person in one place. I realised I was losing a bit of interest in it. I seriously thought very hard about it the last time the council came up for renewal. But there doesn't seem to be a great number of people in Aylsham prepared to put themselves forward so I went on again but it was one term too long really. It is time to let somebody else have a go.'

Mr Bush said the work had changed considerably over the years and he had seen an increase in red tape and legislation. He added: 'I also had a bit of cynicism creeping in. You get consulted on all these items by Norfolk County Council and Broadland District Council but I wonder if they really listen to what is said.'

Mr Bush will continue to serve on the recreation ground committee and as a trustee for the Aylsham Jubilee Trust. He will also carry-on his work for Aylsham Show as the head steward of the main ring.

He said he had enjoyed his time on the council and had particularly enjoyed being involved with the first town twinning event with La Chaussee-Saint-Victor in France during his period as council chairman.

He added: 'I do have mixed feelings. Obviously I have been doing it for a long time. I would like to think I have made a positive contribution. I would like to think I was fairly instrumental in getting the maintenance of the recreation ground paid for by the council.

'I have enjoyed it. I think an awful lot of Aylsham. It is a lovely place to live and I will do anything I can to make life better here.'

He wished the town council well for the future and urged Aylsham residents to put themselves forward for he vacant post.