Bill's a supermarket superhero at 94

Supermarket worker Bill Webb is still clocking on at the grand age of 94 - and says he has no plans to retire just yet.

As the oldest worker at store giant Morrisons, he is the ideal illustration of the growing number of pension-age people who have no intention of being put out to grass.

Mr Webb is a familiar figure as a trolley collector at the supermarket's branch in Green Street, Kidderminster, and is a firm favourite with both staff and shoppers alike.

And after turning 94 on May 26, he is basking in national celebrity status with the firm.

As talk of increasing the retirement age swung into the spotlight today, Mr Webb said he firmly believed people who wanted to continue working should be allowed to do so.

"If you can do it and want to do it you should definitely be allowed the opportunity," he said.

"I know it may not be for everyone but my job and being able to do it gives me a lot of pleasure and keeps me active. "I genuinely plan to carry on now for as long as I am able or for as long as the company wants me.

"Retiring is not something I have considered as I do not think your age should stop you working if you want to."

Mr Webb originally only planned to work at the supermarket, then Safeway, for a few weeks when he was approached to take on the role of Father Christmas in 1994 at the age of 80.

Store bosses then asked if he would be willing to carry on working for a few more weeks as a car park attendant.

He remained in the role for more than a decade and now continues to work for 17 hours a week over four days as a trolley assistant at the store, staying on after it moved to Green Street from premises in Oxford Street.

Mr Webb, who lives in the Habberley area of Kidderminster, had previously worked as senior clerk of works for Kidderminster Borough Council overseeing building projects across the area.

He "retired" in 1977 but was asked to return soon afterwards to oversee the building of housing estates in Spennells.

Although he only intended to stay on for a short time, Mr Webb continued working in the post for another five years. "I should have known then retirement was not for me," he said.

"However these things have always come up unexpectedly and I am very glad they have. If I was at home I would not know what to do with myself.

"Here I am meeting people and enjoying my work. It is fantastic and helps to keep me young. I firmly believe if I was not working then I would not be as active as I am now."

Mr Webb said other than a touch of sciatica he was fine and had no plans to retire.

He said he had celebrated his birthday with his family, including his son Stan Webb of well-known Midlands blues band Chicken Shack. His wife Jean died in 1994 at the age of 78.

Staff also helped him celebrate the landmark birthday.

He said: "However the store does something special for me every day not just on birthday. Being able to continue working, meeting and helping people means the world to me.."

Store manager Lucy Denton said: "Bill is a valued member of the team and is really popular with colleagues and customers. I am proud to have Morrisons oldest employee working at my store and would like to thank Bill for all of his years of service."

Mr Webb's congratulations came as the Government unveiled plans which mean workers will no longer be forced to retire at 65 from next year.

It means people would be able to stay in their jobs into their 70s and 80s. Ministers want to end the discrimination of the retirement age, which allows firms to force staff out at 65.

Edward Davey, the employment relations minister, said the aim was to give people the "choice" to carry on working for longer if they wanted and felt able to.The move is also expected to boost the public purse.

It has won praise from anti-ageist campaigners who have complained that forcing someone to retire just because they reached 65 was discriminatory. But after studying the details of yesterday's announcement, the country's leading business groups criticised the move, warning that the timescale will give companies little time to prepare.

The Institute of Directors (IoD) said it "greatly regretted" the decision, while the CBI said business will now be left with many "unresolved" problems.

Adam Marshall, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "The Government has pledged to reduce the burden of employment law, but at the same time it is proposing to restrict businesses' ability to manage their workforce by phasing out the DRA."