Bolton Evening News journalist Alan Calvert has retired after 38 years at the paper.

During his career he has worked as a reporter, crime reporter, deputy news editor, deputy features editor, business editor and editor of the Evening News' Looking Back page, and has covered some of the town's biggest stories, including the blaze which ravaged Bolton Town Hall in 1981.

Alan, (60), began his career at the age of 16, working for the Lytham St Anne's Express and the Blackpool Gazette.

He moved to the Bolton Evening News on May 16, 1966, aged 21, and began his love affair with the town.

He said: "I have always enjoyed working at the Bolton Evening News. It has always been a good local newspaper.

"It plays an important role in local affairs and the community at large. I will miss the people I have worked with.

"I will never forget the blaze at Bolton Town Hall. I was on the newsdesk that day and I left the office at 5pm and everything was quiet.

"I had just arrived home when I got a phone call from my friend who said the Town Hall was on fire. I thought he was joking at first, but I went out and covered the story.

"I consider myself a Boltonian now, despite originally coming from Blackpool. All my friends and family live here now."

To mark Alan's retirement, he was presented with two specially-produced front pages. Dozens of colleagues, both past and present, also attended a party in his honour.

He now plans to spend more time with his family, but he will continue to write his weekly column, which appears every Monday.