A HASSOCKS garden centre worker, John Daley, has just celebrated his 81st birthday and says he has no plans to retire just yet.

The family-run Tates of Sussex Garden Centre Group now employ a total of 18 staff members who are over the age of 70, and the majority are based along with John at South Downs Nurseries in Hassocks.

Branch Manager Steve Parsons said “We are proud to employ so many over 70s here at South Downs Nurseries.

“They now make up more than ten per cent of our workforce and are a great asset to us, offering the rest of the team a huge wealth of knowledge that comes from life experience.”

The garden centre is very popular in Hassocks.