IT was a case of 31 not out for a deputy headteacher when he retired last week.

Dave Watson arrived at Darlington's Hummersknott School as head of biology in 1969 and eventually became head of science.

In 1976, he was appointed to the role of deputy headteacher, which he relinquishes on Friday.

Headteacher David Henderson said he is pleased Mr Watson will not be leaving the school completely, as he will continue with a part-time role at Hummersknott.

Mr Henderson said: "Although he's retiring, he's actually going to come back two days a week as a consultant. He's going to help to run the language college."

Mr Watson, 59, will also help to run the school's budget as a beacon college.

Mr Watson was a pupil at St John's Primary School, in Darlington, Darlington Boys' Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, and studied at Aberdeen University before sitting a postgraduate certificate at Leeds.

His first job was at Northallerton Grammar School, where he taught for seven years before moving to Hummers-knott.

"It will be a big wrench for me," he said. "I will miss the little darlings a lot."

But he added he was looking forward to his continued involvement with the school, as well as a spot of golf, fishing and gardening.