REPORTER Gordon Rogers retired this week after six years of bringing news and views from Abingdon.

In his time with the paper, he has constantly kept his finger on the pulse of life in Abingdon, covering such stories as the fight to save Radley Lakes and the redevelopment of the town's Old Gaol.

Mr Rogers said: "I've enjoyed my time and have become involved with the community in Abingdon and surrounding villages.

"In my six years with the newspaper there have been some big changes: the opening of the new leisure and tennis centre, the closure of the Old Gaol leisure centre.

"Then of course there is the controversial new traffic system and the row about the proposed new reservoir and the Radley Lakes saga."

Mr Rogers said he was sad to be leaving, especially with so many big issues coming up in the new year.

He said: "The big event will come in January or February when the Vale of White Horse District Council announces the name of the developer of the Old Gaol.

"Then there are the plans for the improvements to county hall that houses the museum, the outcome of which should be known in June."

Mr Rogers started his career in journalism working in the Milton Keynes branch of the Northampton Chronicle and Echo. One of his first assignments was covering the Great Train Robbery in 1963.

Mr Rogers also spent time as a reporter for BBC Radio Oxford, going on to become a producer and presenter.

He was there for 20 years, before leaving to become a freelance reporter, and eventually working for Newsquest Oxfordshire.