A photographer has said farewell to the regional press after almost four decades to become a gardener.

Tim Williams has announced his retirement from the Melton Times, where he has worked for 26 years.

Tim began his career local newspapers in the Rugby area in 1983 and then spent seven years with the Northampton-based Herald & Post series.

He subsequently moved to Leicestershire as a freelance photographer supplying the Harborough Mail and Leicester Mercury, before moving to the Times in 1996.

Tim’s retirement made the front page of the Times on Thursday

Famous subjects include The Queen, who visited Melton Mobray in 1996, and BBC cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew, who lives on the paper’s patch.

Speaking to Times journalist Nick Rennie, Tim said: “When I started in the 1990s the Melton Times was a buzzing newsroom. There were around 10 journalists and a busy advertising team and reception desk.

“Some of us would go to the pub at lunchtime which was the culture back then in most offices. It was before the internet then and long before the advent of camera phones so I would usually be the only person with a camera at most jobs.

“It was always a thrill seeing your best pictures in print every week on a Thursday morning.”

Discussing how the job has changed, he added: “There was a golden period when we got used to digital cameras and they were too expensive for the general public to buy and it was a lot cheaper not having to develop photos from films.

“But as cameras became more affordable I got less busy and then phone cameras came in which changed everything.”

Tim also shared his gratitude towards photographers Derek Whitehouse, Jim Harrison and the late Stuart Payne for the advice they gave him after joining the Times.

He will now return to a village in the Rugby area, where he grew up, to begin a career in gardening.

Tim said: “I may occasionally be spotted at a local cricket or football match in the future to catch up with old friends but my ‘man about town with a camera’ days are over.

“My 26 years covering local news and sport in the Melton area have been an absolute pleasure and a privilege, and I wish the Melton Times all the best for the future in these challenging times.”

Nick, who is chief reporter at the Times, has also paid tribute to Tim.

He said: “It’s been a pleasure going out on stories with you Tim since I returned to the paper a few years ago.

“Particular memories were the challenge of covering exam results day across multiple schools and still finding time for a breakfast break. We always found time for a pint at various events like the Fatstock Show and pub jobs when it never felt like work.

“You’ve been the face of the Melton Times for so long and we will miss your contributions to the paper and your unique sense of humour.”