AMBULANCEMAN Terry Lake was given a fond farewell by colleagues when he retired after 40 years.

Mr Lake, of Bridewell Street, Devizes, started with Wiltshire Ambulance Service as a mechanic based at Chippenham. After five years he moved to the station in Devizes and became a driver attendant. He later became a leading ambulance man and in 1995 became the sub-officer in charge of Devizes Ambulance Station, supervising 14 staff.

He has witnessed some harrowing injuries but also lighter moments.

Mr Lake said: "We delivered a baby in the ambulance while we were parked in a layby in Melksham. The ambulance then was so old and rickety that the blinds over the windows would roll back up when a lorry went past.

"We also delivered twins in the ambulance while we were taking a woman to Salisbury. She didn't know she was having twins and she was as shocked as we were."

He played for Devizes Town Football Club from 1956 to the early 1970s as a winger and was a member of the side which won the Wiltshire Senior Cup.

His other football claim to fame was playing alongside striker Roger Hunt before he played for England. Mr Hunt played for the club when he while he was in the Army and stationed on Salisbury Plain.