Long-serving Calne officer PC Alan Blake will retire on March 30 to enjoy more time with his family after spending more than 20 years in the Wiltshire force.

PC Blake trained as a motor mechanic and worked in sales before joining the police in 1992.

He started on the beat at Corsham. He spent six years there and 18 months with the Chippenham Response Team before moving to Calne in 1999.

His position on the Calne Rural beat is being taken over by PC Sonya Stockhill, who has moved from Trowbridge and worked with PC Blake at the start of his career.

PC Blake said: “I actually worked with Sonya when I started in Corsham. She helped me quite a bit as a new recruit, she was one of the people who helped me in the early days.

“Being a police officer was something I always had an inkling for. I wish I had gone to see someone earlier because I would have joined a lot earlier.

“No matter who has been stationed here in Calne it’s always been a good team and we’ve always got on. I will miss the people I work with, it’s going to take a bit of getting used to.”

PC Blake, who is a keen golfer, retires on his 60th birthday and has planned a celebration with family and friends, including his wife Jane, his daughter Gemma and his son James.

He will have a few months off before looking for a part-time job and has booked a family holiday to Portugal in August.