BARNSLEY Council celebrated its long-standing employees last week who have clocked up almost 1,000 years between them.

The Long Service Award celebration is in recognition of colleagues who have reached 25 years with the council, and 37 people reached that milestone this year.

Those involved enjoyed afternoon in the town hall before being recognised for their dedication of the last quarter of a century.

Coun Sir Steve Houghton, leader of the council, said: “It has been a wonderful afternoon of celebration in recognition of our dedicated colleagues reaching this tremendous milestone./

“We’re fortunate to have the opportunity to hold these awards, as it highlights that we’re an organisation where our employees and colleagues choose to stay.

“So much has changed during their 25 years of service, with the borough and organisation almost unrecognisable to what it was all those years ago.

“Whether recipients have been in the same role for the last 25 years, or have moved around, they’ve all played an invaluable role in driving forward our ambitions for the borough and getting to where we are today.”