POSTMAN Dave Toogood had an emotional send off from youngsters at St Barnabas Primary School in Market Lavington.

Year 6 pupils sang songs to him and read poetry.

They also presented him with a book they had made, which was based on the Jolly Postman book.

Mr Toogood retired this week after 17 years as a postman, the last 13 of which were in Easterton and included St Barnabas School.

Grandfather Mr Toogood, of Meadow Drive, Devizes, said: "I don't get very emotional but I was at the school assembly."

Mr Toogood, 65, was also presented with cash from Easterton Parish Council on Monday night as a thank you for his work over the years.

Mr Toogood said: "Being a postman has been a wonderful job.

"You meet a lot of people and most of them are friends now."

Before becoming a postman Mr Toogood was a landscape gardener He was also a traffic officer at Wiltshire Police for 11 years.