ONE of the longest serving workers at the Friarage Hospital has retired after 35 years service.

A porter's vehicle, affectionately known as Old Faithful, has long been a familiar sight at the Northallerton hospital.

The Crompton electricar was used to collect clinical and domestic waste daily and has never missed a day's work.

But after clocking up more than 153,000 miles in all weathers, it has finally been decided to retire it.

The vehicle, thought to date from 1972, has done its last round and a replacement is being sought.

Porter Paul Lovell said: "A basic vehicle at the time would have cost about £1,000 so she's definitely been worth her money.

"Old Faithful's never had a day off, just got on with the job in hand and has never complained.

"We do know the head porter at the time collected the vehicle from the railway station and drove it from there to its new home at the Friarage and here she's stayed.

"It's quite sad in a way, and we wanted to mark the end of an era really as she was part of the furniture."

The cost of a replacement vehicle will cost the hospital between £5,000 and £22,000 depending on models.