Brenda Thornton, 60, has bid a fond farewell to her colleagues at the centre for children with additional needs, having joined as a volunteer in 1989.

She said she was sad to leave and would miss her colleagues, but felt it was the right time to step down and hand over to her successor Melanie Godridge.

Brenda (pictured) added: "This has been a fantastic experience.

"There are fewer and fewer people who have a job they looking forward to going to each day – it has been so rewarding. I feel privileged to have been part of the children's and their parents' lives."

The nursery was started in 1985 by Gwan Sykes as a respite care group, and moved into its current premises in the old caretaker's house at Hungate Primary School four years later.

Centre supporter Avril Perkins, who died last year, raised thousands of pounds for the centre, and Brenda acknowledged her part in taking the centre as far as it has come.

She said: "Avril was a great supporter of ours and we will remember her on the first anniversary of her death later this month."

Centre children will once again visit the RAF base at Church Fenton tomorrow to meet Father Christmas, who will fly in by plane, and receive presents courtesy of Sherburn waste management firm Mytum and Selby.