THREE Leominster councillors with more than 70 years of service between them are standing down this year.

Mollie Cooke, Brigadier Peter Jones – who is the current mayor – and Cecil Pritchard are all retiring from their duties in May.

Mrs Cooke stands down after 39 years, having served as the mayor of Leominster three times.

She told the Hereford Times this week that when she stood for election initially, she did not think she would ever be elected.

"I sort of panicked when it was the count," she said. "I didn't even know how the count worked at that point. But I have enjoyed it.

"I have been mayor three times and have been to Buckingham Palace for a garden party. That was lovely."

She said the time had come to retire after being diagnosed with osteoporosis and will turn 83 later this year.

"I will miss it. I panic a bit when I think about what I'm going to do now but I have got three great grand children," she said. "I'm going to enjoy being retired I think."

Also retiring this year is current mayor, Brigadier Peter Jones, who has served as a town and county councillor since 2000.

He settled in Herefordshire in 1993 after leaving the army and was, at that point, working in the British Embassy in Moscow.

"I left the UN in 1999 and came back here and was rushed into standing for the town council and county council – which I did – and have been here ever since," he said.

Brigadier Jones, 76, has also been on the fire authority for many years as well as a governor at Earl Mortimer College and Sixth Form Centre.

He plans to keep his role as church warden at Leominster's Priory Church.

Also retiring this year is Cecil Pritchard who is looking forward to spending more time driving his 'little red tractor' on the farm.

The 85-year-old has been a Leominster town councillor for 18 years after moving to the north of the county from the Golden Valley.

He said: "I was born on the family farm and have plenty of experience of farming. My ambition was to be a North Herefordshire councillor which I received and enjoyed.

"I always stood up for Herefordshire and the NHS. I was also a member of agricultural meetings.

"I have enjoyed it very much. I want to see the young ones get involved now."

Mr Pritchard added he is looking forward to being able to work on the farm again after retiring.