THE retiring postmasters of Luckington Post Office looked on in disbelief as a marquee full of 300 people held a surprise retirement party in their honour.

Saturday's rain was not the only waterworks to feature during the day as John and Judith Sykes, 69 and 68, who have recently retired after running the shop for 23 years, were stunned by singing school children, a heartfelt speech from long-term friend Sheila Hancock and a mountain of gifts.

Mrs Sykes said: "It was a shock. You sort of know that something is going to happen but the scale of it and the number of people who had turned up was incredible. Sheila taking the time out of filming to come out was really special too. She has always been a good friend and customer of ours and she always used to come and see us whenever she was down and John used to spend a lot of time talking to my husband in a corner of the shop."

The party was kept as a surprise by their daughter who drove the Sykes to the green where they were later presented with a cheque for £6,315 and showered with gifts.

She added: "They gave us a lot of money and one of the children drew a picture of the shop and there was a lovely book with lots of lovely words and thoughts in it and you need a bit of a tissue to read them really."

Mrs Sykes, who worked in the shop eight years before becoming postmaster, said their customers were like a big extended family who she had watched grow up but both her and her husband were looking forward to relaxing.

Liz Pike, one of the organisers said: "To a lot of the older members of the village, it was more than just a shop for them as John and Judith did far more than they needed to. We were wondering what to buy them for a while but in the end we settled on giving them money, but we also got them a lovely big bouquet of flowers and a local blacksmith made them a lovely sculpture that was commissioned by their daughter."

"The total amount then was about £6,300 but it will be much more like six or seven thousand because people kept donating on the day. John and Judith were gobsmacked and they were so moved by it all."

The Sykes are now looking forward to spending some time abroad in Crete, before coming home to relax and enjoy their retirement.