DRIVER Val Blease is to retire from the ambulance service after 23 years.

Mrs Blease joined Richmond ambulance station, North Yorkshire, in 1979 to transport children with learning difficulties to school.

Over the years she has established relationships with dozens of special needs pupils at Dales School, Morton-on-Swale.

Mrs Blease, who lives in Newbiggin, Richmond, said: "I have had some wonderful children with me over the years, some of them from when they started school at the age of three until they left at 18, so you can get quite attached."

The 61-year-old took up the post with the Patient Transport Service after her children, Alyson and Michael, started secondary school.

Working four hours a day, Mrs Blease has taken up to nine children to the special school every weekday, with an escort employed by North Yorkshire County Council.

"I like meeting people and I have always been keen on children, but now I have got my own grandchildren I thought it was an ideal time to do more for them," said Mrs Blease, who husband, Oliver, is a North Yorkshire county councillor and Richmond town councillor.

Peter Smith, manager of Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service, praised Mrs Blease for all her work.

He said: "She has done an excellent job over the years, and has certainly been a credit to the service.

"She will be sadly missed."