THE last day of 2021 is also a landmark one for a popular butcher, who has been serving his local community for 44 years.

Today is the last one at work at the Reeds butchery on St John's Way Corringham, a family-owned business run by Will and Bill Reed, for 66-year-old Keith Carpenter.

Corringham-born Keith pre-dates both Will and Bill, having worked for the former owners of the shop when it was known as N.D. Fuller butchers.

Before that he had learned his trade after leaving school, starting in Bob Rouse's butchers on Woodbrooke Way in the town.

Keith had a short break doing roadwork for 12 months when he was younger but missed the trade so much he returned and spent 35 years in total with Fullers, before carrying on when the Reeds took over in 2012.

Will Reed said: "It's going to be the end of an era, a bit like losing part of the furniture.

"Keith is one of the most hard-working people I have had the pleasure to work alongside and he is going to be greatly missed by all of us and all of our regular customers.

We are open from 7am to 2.30pm today so it would be lovely to see as many customers as possible to say there goodbye's to Keith. We will still be in contact with Keith if anyone can't make it in and would like us to forward any cards onto him.

"It will be a sad day and is going to be a very strange 2022 starting the year without him."

In the new year Keith will be retiring to Suffolk to unwind and enjoy his retirement.