THEY say a good plumber is never out of work and for one of Britain's oldest Ian Herring jobs have always been in the pipeline.

The 74-year-old has spent 60 years in the trade and has worked for stars including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Anneka Rice and celebrity chef Anton Mossiman.

Customers are so impressed with Mr Herring's work that he has just been hailed Wiltshire's favourite plumber for the fifth time in a row.

"The jobs with the celebrities were quite special and I will always remember them," he said.

"But I've always enjoyed working. I've got to know a lot of customers over the years and a lot of them have become my friends."

Mr Herring, of Old Town, began a seven year apprentice-ship with Essex firm HU Potter in 1944, aged just 14.

Two years after his training finished he moved to Wilt-shire and, while working for a firm called Llewellyn during the 1950s, helped plumb RAF Lyneham's officers' quarters.

Towards the end of the 50s he joined North Wiltshire Sanitation and Heating, where he stayed for 22 years, before starting up on his own.

Now, 30 years on, Herring Heating is a thriving business. Mr Herring said: "I will keep working for as long as I feel fit.

"I don't have much trouble getting up in the morning and I enjoy meeting other people from the trade every day for a coffee and chit chat."

The search for the county's best plumber is held every three years and Mr Herring has won each time.

He is flushed with his latest triumph.

"I'm really pleased with the success it has given me a lot of satisfaction," he said. "It's my customers which fill in the nomination forms so it feels good that I'm appreciated."

Mr Herring, whose son, Matthew, is a manager at the Arts Centre in Devizes Road, will now go through to the regional round of the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering competition.

And, after reaching the national final twice but never winning, he hopes that this time he will be the UK's most popular.

The winner will be announced at the end of the year.

Andy Watts, chief executive and secretary of the Institute, said: "Ian has supported the work and activities of the institute significantly over the past four decades.

"He epitomises what this competition is all about.

"He is dedicated, respon-sible and competent a real professional."