A £1,000 donation will be winging its way to LATCH, the Welsh children’s cancer charity, to mark the retirement of Vale of Glamorgan mobile library driver John Jones.

Vale Council library staff raised the money to mark the end of John’s 25 year career driving the mobile library - first with South Glamorgan County Council, then with the Vale.

John said: “My nine-year-old granddaughter, Ellie, has a rare form of liver cancer and has been in and out of hospital all year.

"LATCH has been a great support to the family. I didn't want any fuss over my retirement, but the library staff came up with the lovely gesture of raising funds for the charity.

"I am very pleased with the response!”

Chief librarian, Sian Jones, presented John with the cheque for LATCH, and said: “John has provided an excellent service to residents for an impressive 25 years.

"We have recently received a letter from a resident, praising his unfailing good humour and years of diligent service.

“I can remember the day he joined the library service and we are sorry to see him go, but we wish him a very happy retirement," she added.

“It’s a great pleasure to present him with this cheque for his chosen charity.”

Library staff raised the money by holding a ‘panto day’, with staff dressing up as characters from pantomime and children's storybooks and selling cakes and other refreshments.