OVER 30 Wightlink staff celebrated almost a thousand years of service this week.

The staff were treated to lunch at the Square Tower in Portsmouth where directors and senior managers praised their hard work.

All the guests had been recognised during the last year for notching up 20, 30 or 40 years working for the ferry company. Added together, their total years of service was 996 years.

The longest-serving member of staff was Paul McCoubrie from Leigh Park, Havant. The 61 year old has worked for Wightlink for 44 years, starting off as a ‘bar boy’. He is now a senior rating on Fast Cat catamarans between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier Head.

He said: "I started off when the ferries were owned by British Rail, I was the youngest purser and have worked around the company, it’s a great place to work."

Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield said: “Our staff always do their best to make sure holidaymakers and local people enjoy a great experience travelling to and from the Isle of Wight with Wightlink and we are delighted to recognise their hard work around the clock in fair weather or foul.”