74-year-old Peter Woodmansey still keeping the streets clean

Despite retiring as a council worker in 2001, 74-year-old Peter Woodmansey still works for the people of Darlington keeping the streets of the town clean.

On average, Mr Woodmansey spends two hours every day sweeping the streets of Darlington town centre.

As a reward for his efforts, he has been presented with the latest Going the Extra Mile Award by the chairman of the Darlington North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), Denis Pinnegar.

The award, which is run by The Northern Echo and the NECC, recognises inspirational employees each month and gives them £100. The overall winner gets an extra £300 at the end of the year.

Mr Pinnegar said: “Peter represents everything there is to think about in terms of civic pride.

“He’s not doing this for money, his only desire is to keep his town looking good.”

Mr Woodmansey sweeps a number of streets in and around the town centre, including Dinsdale Crescent, Hundens Lane, and the Royal Oak, off Yarm Road.

Before retirement, he had worked for the council for 35 years, initially as a street sweeper and latterly in the horticultural section.

He said he still cleans the streets to keep active and to ensure the area is kept tidy.

Mr Woodmansey, whose ambitions are to meet Tyne Tees newsreader Pam Royle and appear in the Big Brother house, said he plans to spend his prize money on groceries and a new bell for his bicycle.

He said: “I just want to keep the area looking nice.

“I’m really happy about getting the award.”

Mr Woodmansey was nominated by Julie Malton, who owns Malton’s Sandwich Bar in Woodland Road, Darlington.

She said that as a local business it was nice to have someone keeping the area clean.

She said: “He just keeps everywhere tidy and I wanted him to get the recognition.

“He’s very well known around the area.

“He went out the other day to Beverley (in East Yorkshire) and saw some litter so he bought a dustpan and brush and cleaned it up.

That’s how dedicated he is.”