A celebration is being held for a church organist who is retiring after 50 years.

Mary Parkinson, who is the organist at St Mary Magdalene Parish Church, in Yarm, will retire on Easter Sunday.

Miss Parkinson, who was a music teacher, had to learn new skills for the church organ, which she first played at the church on Easter Sunday in 1953.

She has seen a lot of changes to the church, and in her half century of service has never been late or absent.

Miss Parkinson will continue to play for funerals and in emergencies, but hopes to be able to spend more time with her brother.

The Reverend Simon Gurd said: "Mary has given 50 years of dedicated service to the church and to Yarm, and families are grateful to her for playing both for their weddings and on more sad occasions.

"She will be remembered and thanked by everyone with grateful thanks from all the church community."

The longest serving organist before Miss Parkinson was William Robinson, who was with the church from 1805 to 1826