STAFF and councillors at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council have said farewell to a senior colleague Keith Nicholson, the director of planing and engineering.

Mr Nicholson is planning to take up work in conservation, handing the reins of his council job to Steve Humphrey, formerly an officer at Medway Council.

Mr Nicholson joined Tonbridge and Malling council in 1987 and was appointed to his post as director in 1998. He played a key role in the development of Kings Hill and dealing with the devastation caused by floods two years ago.

The father-of-two said: "People tell me there's a life outside local government. I am to find out if that's true."

His 45-year-old successor, a father of four, previously worked on the redevelopment of Chatham's Royal Naval Dockyard.