AN accountant who has worked for the same firm for five decades is to retire.

Ronald Addy, 80, joined the Darlington firm in 1949 as an accounts clerk before working his way up to accountant.

During his time at CJ Smithson, in Victoria Road, he carried out audits for companies including Dressers and The Northern Echo.

Mr Addy, who is from Leeds, but moved to Darlington in 1946, has made many friends through his work in the town.

He said: "I really enjoy working for the firm, which is why I have stayed here so long. I have made a lot of friends.

"Many of my clients have become personal friends. I often go for a cup of coffee and a chat with them. It is nice like that. I have seen a lot of changes.

"These days we work with computers, but when I first started everything was done in your head."