REGULARS at the Star Inn at Lydd have bid farewell to landlord Mick Robertson after eight years behind the bar. Mr Robertson, a former chairman of Lydd Football Club was honoured by a surprise party.

He is leaving the pub to start a career as an executive courier. The party was organised by Cllr Graham Snell and Kelly Collyer and as a parting gift Mr Robertson was presented with a painting of his favourite football club, Leeds United.

The painting showed the club's changing room with a shirt with his name on it on one of the hooks. He said: "I have been a Leeds fan all my life and have quite a lot of Leeds memorabilia so it was a wonderful present.

"I just decided it was time for a change. I have been here quite a while now and wanted to do something a bit different."