Community hosts retirement party for popular postie

Residents are throwing a retirement party for a popular postman who has spent decades delivering to their area.

Keith Paul retired on Thursday after 40 years with the Royal Mail, including 35 covering the Wokingham Road area of Earley in Berkshire.

Residents told the BBC the 66-year-old would be sorely missed and hoped Saturday's celebration would show him how much he meant to their community.

Keith said he was happy to be remembered so favourably.

A big football and golf fan, Keith said he was considering taking up new hobbies such as metal detecting in retirement.

Among the residents sad to see Keith go is 61-year-old Diane Nice, who has known the postie for 38 years.

She said he had become "a key part of the local community" who had witnessed her children grow up and sang to them on their birthdays.

"My kids would walk to school with him and post the letters," she said.

"He would never leave parcels by the door, he always knocks or leaves them with a neighbour."

And Anya, 53, who has known Keith for 16 years, described his caring side and how he had almost become part of the family for some.

"He would always check on the elderly or frail and be alert," she added.

Paul Gold, 72, who has known Keith for 40 years, said: "It's always nice to have a chat with a postman - he has time for us and we have time for him, which is rare to find.

"We're going to miss him and hope his replacement is as good as he is."