FORTY years after delivering his first letter a Warminster postman is still handing out the mail.

Ken Byfield, 63, of Manor Gardens, Warminster, celebrated the landmark anniversary on Tuesday - despite only intending to take the job temporarily when he joined in October 1966.

Born and bred in Warminster, Mr Byfield took employment with Royal Mail after being made redundant, and thought it would help him make ends meet while he looked for a job as an engineer.

"I joined shortly after England won the World Cup, and I thought I'd work as a postman until they won it again, that's why I'm still here," he joked.

After joining Royal Mail Mr Byfield found he enjoyed working outside and meeting people so much that what he viewed as a temporary job quickly became permanent.

For a number of years he has delivered to the Horningsham and Longleat areas, and is a well-known figure to his customers.

Stephen Cleaver, delivery office manager at Warminster said: "Ken has reached an amazing milestone, and I realised the other day that when he started off as a postman I was only five years old."