A HEADTEACHER has bid a fond farewell to her Burnley primary school after calling time on a career spanning three decades.

Liz Townend, who has spent the last 14 years at the helm of Worsthorne Primary School, retired on Friday.

And Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans even bade her a personal farewell on his breakfast show ahead of her last day.

The 60-year-old grandma-of-two hailed the children, staff, governors and parents for making her job so enjoyable, and helping set the school on the right track.

She said she was looking forward to being more of a ‘hands-on granny’, and devoting more time to travelling and hobbies.

“It’s been absolutely brilliant,” she said on her last day in charge of the Brownside Road school.

“I have worked with fantastic governors, super staff, lovely children and very supportive and wonderful parents. You can’t ask for better than that.

“I’m just very proud of the fact that the school is full of happy children who want to learn.

“I have been handed lots of cards and the children have been fantastic on my last day.”

Mrs Townend, who grew up in Blackburn, went to Lammack Primary School and the Girls’ High School, before embarking on a teacher training course at St Katharine’s College, Liverpool.

She taught in Lancashire and Scotland before returning to teach at Brookside Primary School, Clitheroe, and then Worsthorne.

The avid Blackburn Rovers fan, who lives in Langho, said she would miss the ‘friendly’ football banter at the Burnley school.

She said: “I’m looking forward to being able to support Blackburn Rovers without being teased about it.

"Monday mornings are wonderful here!”