POSTMAN Ken Murphy received a send-off to write home about when he retired after more than 30 years delivering mail to the same road.

People living in Marton Avenue, Middlesbrough, threw a surprise farewell party for the 65-year-old at The Ladle pub, Ladgate Lane, on Friday.

Ian Graham, chairman of Marton Avenue Residents' Association, said: "Everybody responded to the fact that he's served us faithfully and looked after us in such a special way for so long. We just wanted to thank him."

More than 40 residents presented Mr Murphy with a bottle of whisky and a cheque for £159, and partygoers tucked into a cake decorated with a post box.

Mr Murphy said: "I didn't know anything about it, but it was lovely. The people of Marton Avenue are really, really lovely and I'll miss them.