A driver's mate who worked his way up to become a furniture firm's main fitter is celebrating 40 years with the company.

Mick McCarthy joined Honours Furnishings in 1978 when he was 16-years-old.

On Sunday, the grandfather celebrated his ruby anniversary with the Sheerness High Street firm.

The 56-year-old said: “It’s been a lifetime.

“I never intended to spend this long here, I’ve always just taken it as a job.

“When I first applied the job was advertised a driver’s mate, I thought it would just be a bit of delivery.

“A lot of people came and went over the years but I’ve stuck at it, it’s a job and I’m not one for sitting around.

“The firm has pretty much stayed the same, from the moment I started I was treated as one of the family and that hasn’t changed.We still put our customers first, I go and see our regular clients and they say ‘haven’t you retired yet?’

“They can’t believe it when I tell them it’s been 40 years.”

Mr McCarthy said he still enjoys his job, adding: “I feel like my own boss most of the time and I’ve made some good friends over the years.

“A couple of years ago I thought how it would be nice to make it to 40 years and its great to reach that milestone now.”

Owner Chris Honour said: “I joined four years after Mick, he had just started fitting and I used to help him.

“He’d started as a driver’s mate, under the watchful eye of our fitter Derek Akehurst.

“When he joined he was there to help carry furniture, then he started fitting himself.

“Since then he’s he’s seen a lot of younger guys join and helped them learn.”

“We’ve grown up together and become very close, like brothers.”

After four decades fitting carpet and delivering furniture, Mr McCarthy, who grew up in Queensway, isn’t mapping out his retirement just yet.

The Minster resident said: “We’d all like to retire, but right now I’ve got no immediate plans, I don’t know much longer my knees can fit carpets though.”

The firm presented Mr McCarthy with a hamper and a night away with wife Nicole at The Black Horse Inn in Thurnham, near Maidstone.