News Group editor Jeff Jephcott has retired after 43 years in the business.

The 60-year-old editor of The Stourbridge, Halesowen and Dudley News - who began his career as a tea boy on the old Dudley Herald - decided to call it a day after reaching the milestone last autumn.

Jeff, who had been boss of the three papers produced at St John's House for 13 years, set many aspiring young hacks on the road to careers in journalism and has helped highlight the plights of many local charities and causes over the years especially Mary Stevens Hospice, Dudley Hope, and the campaign to keep Brierley Hill baths open.

But after a staggering 43 years in the rapidly-changing industry and 38 years working for Stourbridge News owners Newsquest and its predecessors - Albion-mad Jeff now wants to spend more time watching his beloved team, as well as travelling, walking, tending his garden and new allotment and entertaining his grandkids.

He said: "It's been a difficult decision, but there are many mountains to climb out there and I've got myself an allotment patch which should keep me busy for a while.

"Over the years there have been many highs and a few lows.

"Probably the high point was when I came back from working on Redditch and I took over what was my hometown paper - the Stourbridge News - but I was doubly fortunate in that I also took over the Dudley News, and as I was born and bred in Dudley this had a special significance for me. It's something I've always been very proud of.

"The News Group, however, will press on with three very successul papers, but this time with somebody else's hand on the tiller."

Always-on-the-go Jeff, however, won't be ditching his beloved newspapers altogether - he hopes to return to be involved with a couple of projects in the company in the future.