BUS driver Lynton Burse is a smooth operator - or was until he retired on his 65th birthday this week.

The Bridport man always loved driving but while his wife Kathleen was alive he took the advice of coach drivers who said it was punishing on a marriage.

So for her sake he stuck out ten years in a furniture carpet stores working for a man he hated and who hated him.

When she died of ovarian cancer he realised long spells behind a wheel were no longer an issue and would provide him with a real chance to get out and about and meet people.

So that's what he did. In 1989 he started working for Bere Regis Coaches transporting workers to the Wytch Farm oil fields - something he did morning and afternoon for 13 days out of 14.

Out of a dozen coaches his vehicle was always the first to fill up - that was because the workers, who played and partied hard, could get an extra three quarters of an hour sleep such was the smoothness of his driving.

Word got back to the boss and Mr Burse began to be used for private hire, the London run, day trips, excursions and extended tours.

He did that for nearly ten years until he decided to spend less time driving to work and more time at work and got a job with First in Bridport.

He was happy to know he'd be in his own bed each night and making friends on his regular runs.

He retired officially on his birthday on Monday - and there are only two other drivers left who were there when he started.

He had a retirement lunch and presentation at the The Ropemakers on Sunday.

He has plenty of plans for his retirement but he's loved his years behind a wheel.

He said: "If you are out every day you see the seasons change and if you are out nearly in the morning you see a lot of wildlife and late at night.

"The people that you pick up over a period of time, they become you friends.

"And for some reason the travelling public has taken me to their hearts. I have been really touched b y the retirement cards I have received from them and some of the comments.

"They seem to think I am something special. I have always said that I feel I am average sort of person doing an average sort of job but the public see it differently!"

His colleagues also overwhelmed him with their presentations at his farewell lunch.

"It's almost been too much to take in," he said.

On his birthday his family treated him to a flight in a light aircraft but in his retirement he'll catching up on jobs around the house, enjoying seeing more of his numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, spending more time on his hobbies of photography, astronomy and keeping tropical fish and he'll be enjoying - more driving.

He plans to find a class late 1980s X class Mercedes Benz and drive it around just for fun.