A shop assistant in Guernsey has been awarded 40 sausage rolls for 40 years of service.

Fifty-six-year-old Kevin Parsons started working at the island’s Alliance supermarket in 1984.

Bosses marked the anniversary by giving him a certificate, a tropical-themed mural for his home and a sausage roll for each of his next 40 shifts.

Mr Parsons, who was described as an “Alliance celebrity” by bosses, said “words can’t express my appreciation” for his gifts.

Staff and bosses gathered to mark the occasion with a ceremony in the store on Monday.

“It’s been a long 40 years but I’ve loved every minute of it,” said Mr Parsons.

He started helping with deliveries but moved to the supermarket’s freezer section 38 years ago and said he kept warm by “running”.

“You need roller skates to keep up with me,” he said.

Chris Fish, the chairman of Alliance, said Mr Parsons was a great member of the island community.

He said: “He’s been exemplary all the time. He will always turn his hand and help you out.

“He does a lot for the community and raises a lot of money for charity, which is very valuable”.

Commercial director Laura Golden said the response to a Facebook post about Mr Parsons’ anniversary proved how well he was “adored”.

She said: “We sense that here. We are the same.

“For us, it’s great. We are a local independent retailer and Kevin represents that.”