A CHAMPAGNE toast with his colleagues and friends at a Rushden garage set workshop supervisor Ken Daly on the road to a life of leisure.

Ken joined Townsends Garage as a specialist mechanic 22 years ago. Yesterday the company and his colleagues presented him with gifts to mark his retirement.

Director Don Gibson presented him with a colour television and thanked him for his service.

Men in the workshop clubbed together to buy a set of whisky glasses and whisky, before toasting his future in champagne and cutting a cake decorated with the names of cars he has helped to service and maintain.

Ken and his wife, Madge, live at Irthlingborough and have a son, two daughters and 10 grandchildren.

He plans to spend more time in his retirement on his hobbies — motoring and gardening.

"I haven't any real plans at the moment — but I certainly won't be idle," he said.