A textile worker has called it a day after 50 years at a Wisbech firm.

Dave Warby joined Pike Textiles aged 15, when it was based in March, and stayed loyal to the company for half a century.

To say thank you for his service, Mr Warby was given big send-off. His wife, two daughters, sons-in-law and two grandchildren joined more than 100 of his recent and former colleagues at the firm’s premises to celebrate his career.

When the business moved to Wisbech in 1973 it was Mr Warby who drove the minibus to ferry staff from March and back each day.

Andrew Pike, whose father recruited Mr Warby, paid tribute to the way he “went the second mile” for customers. In a farewell speech, he remembered his father taking Mr Warby on a research trip to the USA - when given free rein to choose any restaurant one night, he chose MacDonalds.

A lifelong Chelsea fan, Mr Warby was delighted to receive a signed Zola shirt from his colleagues.

The centrepiece of the farewell party was a colourful cake in the shape of a fabric pattern book, just like all those Mr Warby had made over his career.

In 2009, Mr Warby received a prestigious national Behind the Seams award for being an unsung hero of the UK textile industry.

On his last day in the factory,he ensured his name would live on at Pike by christening a machine “Dave”.