Frank Lloyd might have just turned 80 but he has no intention of hanging up his overalls and turning his back on the Huntingdon factory floor where he still works three days a week.

Yesterday (Tuesday), staff at manufacturing company Encocam, at Stukeley Business Centre, held a surprise birthday party for Mr Lloyd – the firm’s longest-serving employee after 23 years.

“I do something I love plus I get paid for it,” he said. “It’s just a ­pleasure to do it. Basically, I just love work.”

Mr Lloyd, who grew up in London, started work aged 15 for Art Wall Papers.

He moved to St Ives with wife Joan and daughter Lorraine in 1973 and worked for a number of companies, including Express Dairy Manufacturing, Lordgate Engineering and County Windows.

In February 1991, he joined Encocam, then known as Cellbound Composites, and has been bonding panels together ever since.

Changiz Khabiri, who had just set up the company when he hired Mr Lloyd, said: “Employing someone who, at the time, represented 50 per cent of your production was a big decision to make.

“In 23 years, I have not regretted that decision – it’s the best one I’ve made.”

Mike Ashmead, managing director of Encocam, said: “Frank has always approached everything he does with dedication, hard work and good humour.

“He pointed out to us recently that we never actually told him he had passed his three-month probationary period. We confirmed that he’d passed with flying colours!

“Frank has been a mentor to hundreds of employees over the years and everyone in the business looks up to him. He is a real gentlemen.”

Mr Lloyd, a lifelong Stoke City Football Club fan, was presented with a shirt signed by the players and a cake decorated in his team’s colours.

Asked if he had any intention of packing up, Mr Lloyd replied: “I shall still carry on when I’m 100.

“I can’t go anyway – I’ve got the keys to lock up.”