A CREWKERNE man who has made sure generations of youngsters at Southmead Crescent have somewhere to play each day has been honoured by the town council.

For more than 15 years, Mike Robbins, has opened the area's playground first thing in the morning and closed it every time at dusk.

Now the 62-year-old is retiring from his job with the Stokes Partnership and moving away from the area.

Mr Robbins said: "The playground has been here for ages. Years and years ago the council said they were going to revamp it and asked residents what they thought.

"I told them that if they were going to spend money doing that, they should put a fence around it to stop vandalism and make the area safer.

"Although the road here is not very busy, kids used to run out into it. I said if there was a lockable gate, I would gladly lock it each night and open it each morning and that's how I came into the role."

Mr Robbins was presented with a token of appreciation by Crewkerne mayor, Neil Sturtivant on Friday August 27.

He said: "I've had a few ups and downs, sometimes you have to move people along and take a bit of verbal abuse, but for the most part it's been enjoyable."

Mr Robbins plans to spend the next year in Clapton.