A parish council has thanked a former chairman for his many years of service to the village.

At its last meeting of 2017, Hethersett Parish Council said a special thank-you to former chairman, Fred Watkins, who retired from a number of village organisations at the end of the year.

Parish council chairman Jacky Sutton said:'It is only right that we recognise Fred's outstanding contribution to our village over the past 30 years. Fred has been chairman or secretary of a number of groups who will certainly miss you and we wish there were more of you.' Mr Watkins said the 30 years had flown by: 'Back in 1987 we didn't have the village hall and met in the Methodist Church Hall. I have seen the village expand with the Steepletower development.

'I would like to wish all members of the council a successful tenure however long they stay, whether it's a few years or a lifetime.'

Mr Watkins was presented with a thank-you gift, including a bouquet for his wife Hilary.