A "LEGEND" Wee County school janitor has retired last week after more than 30 years of service.

Pupils and staff at Lornshill Academy lined up in the pouring rain outside the school last Friday, June 10, to cheer on retiring "heid janny" Eddie Gray.

The janitor was sent off with a big round of applause and bagpipes playing, having started working at the old academy building in 1990.

Colleague and fellow janitor Peter Paterson has worked with Eddie for some 18 of those years and spoke highly of Eddie, who was branded a "legend" on the academy's social media accounts.

Peter told the Advertiser of a "very nice, friendly" man who was talkative, "liked a bit of banter" and worked hard in the job.

He said: "In a school, no two days are the same.

"You've got incidents happening, obviously you've got set things that got to get done and between us we were managing.

"He was a good worker, knew the school, we've been in here since it opened, we were the first janitors that were in the school"

Both colleagues are football fans and despite one supporting Celtic and the other Rangers, they never argued or said a bad word to each other.

Their best memories together are related to the 'beautiful game' and Peter said: "Every Christmas night out for the department – it was only the two of us at the time – we used to go to Blackpool to watch some football, we went to Manchester to watch Man City vs Crystal Palace, we've done a weekend's tour in Barcelona to see them play – absolutely fantastic weekend."

On social media, the school also paid tribute with videos showcasing Eddie's send off.

The school wrote: "A fabulous send off for a fabulous janitor and all-round great guy. Eddie deserves a quiet retirement after giving his all to the school for over 30 years."

Another post added he was an absolute "legend" and adding that "we will miss you Eddie".

Peter went on: "We got on really well; it was a pleasure to work with him.

"I wish him all the best and I hope it's a long and happy retirement."