A football referee hung up his boots for the final time at the weekend after a 15-year career with Norfolk County FA.

John Middleton, 64, from Hooks Hills Road, Sheringham, is emigrating to Mombasa, Kenya, to live with his wife and teenage son.

His final match was Wells Town FC v Acle United Reserves at Wells yesterday.

Both teams are in the Anglian Combination - Division 2 league and Wells won 2-0.

He did not give away any red or yellow cards and at the end the players clapped him off and gave him a bottle of Port.

After the match Mr Middleton said: 'It was a brilliant day and a good game to go out on. When I came off the pitch and saw the players lined up I could have shed a tear.'

The lifelong Arsenal fan has officiated 857 games, been a referee at 668, given out 622 yellow cards and 127 red cards.