TWO bus company workers have retired after clocking up a combined service of 84 years.

Haider Zaman and Sardara Singh Nijjar will be in the passenger seat from now on after working for First Bus company for 43 and 41 years.

Haider Zaman, know as Harry, is the longest serving First Huddersfield bus driver.

He came to the UK from his native Pakistan in 1960, and started work as a bus conductor with Huddersfield Corporation in 1962.

He progressed to the position of trolley bus driver shortly after, becoming a motor bus driver in 1968.

He continued working with the successor companies, West Yorkshire PTE, Yorkshire Rider, Kingfisher Huddersfield and finally First Huddersfield.

Harry, who lives in Newsome, was a shop steward for the Transport and General Workers' Union from 1978 to 2005.

Local transport union branch secretary, Ken Farrington, said: "Harry has been a permanent fixture in the workplace and extremely popular with everyone he has worked alongside.

"He will be missed, but I, along with his colleagues, wish him a long and happy retirement."

First Bus supervisor Sardara Singh Nijjar, known as Nijjar, began his career with the company as a conductor.

For the last 20 years, he has been a supervisor based at the company's Macaulay Street offices in Huddersfield.

Managing director for First Bus in Huddersfield, Andrew Scholey, said: "This kind of commitment, dedication and loyalty is about more than just earning a living.

"Nijjar has given nearly all of his working life to keeping buses running in Huddersfield, helping to provide people with the transport they need to carry out their daily lives.

"He is a remarkable guy and will be greatly missed by all.

"We all wish Nijjar a happy retirement, and I'm sure he will be keeping in touch with events at the Huddersfield operation."

Mr Nijjar said: "I have always enjoyed meeting people, and all my friends are connected with the bus industry.

"I can remember working on the trolley buses and passengers who lived on the route would bring out cups of tea and a sandwich for the trolley bus crews."

He was presented with a whisky decanter and a model Huddersfield corporation bus. Staff held a party for him on his last day.