Presenter Andie Harper says goodbye to his mid morning listeners when he retires from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire after 24 years.

He hangs up his microphone and says one final goodbye to his tens of thousands of Cambridgeshire listeners on Friday (29).

His producer Mark Williamson, said: “Our listeners see Andie as both a friend and their champion - which is really all we set out to try and achieve with the programme.”

Editor of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, David Harvey, added: “I’ve worked with hundreds of presenters in my BBC career, but none quite like Andie Harper. He’s such a warm, genuine, honest and open character on the radio – and that’s exactly how he is off microphone as well.

“We’ve had a massive outpouring of love and affection from our listeners who are expressing how much they’ll miss him – and it is a testament to the impression he’s made – that those of us who work alongside him day by day are going to miss him just as much.”

It was 1990 when hospital radio presenter Andie Harper came through the doors of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire to sit in on a programme presented by a friend.

Initially employed to read the racing results, he quickly learnt how to operate the tape editing machines, the reel to reel players and eventually the studio.

Previously a teacher, he was not shy of performing in front of a captive audience and he quickly progressed to sports editor in 1998 and in 2003 became the new presenter of the Mid-Morning Show which he has done ever since.

His most memorable live show was talking to Cambridgeshire as news broke of the London 7/7 bombings knowing that on that morning his wife was travelling from Kings Cross to Aldgate.

He presented for two hours before learning she was safe.

Mr Harper said “Many people claim to have had the dream job but in my case it is true. I have worked with a wonderful team, spoken to hundreds of fascinating people and above all had the support of thousands of magnificent listeners; it doesn’t get better than that!”

His final show will be broadcast from 9-noon on Friday August 29 and will be replaced by Paul Stainton’s Big Conversation.