DINNER lady Sybil Adams has retired from Blackfield Infants School after 31 years.

Mrs Adams, of Langley, has seen thousands of pupils pass through the school since she joined the staff in 1970. She was offered the job after her youngest child started going to the school.

"Someone else was taken ill and I agreed to stand in - that was the start of my long association with the school," said Mrs Adams.

"I stayed for so long because I loved the children.

"The pupils call us dinner ladies, but we're supervisory assistants who look after them at playtime and when they're in the hall having lunch.

"The only thing I won't miss is what we call 'wet play'.

"That's when we and the children have to spend playtime in the classroom because it's raining outside.

"It tends to get rather noisy."