A firefighter who was part of the team which dealt with a 40 vehicle crash on the M40 in 2015 has retired.

Bicester Fire Station's longest-serving member, crew manager Paul Mann, has been part of the team for more than 31 years.

Mr Mann joined the station in August 1992 and has since responded to thousands of incidents, including being the officer in charge of first pump and declaring a major incident at the pile up on the M40 in foggy conditions.

Watch manager Coral Hollis said: "Paul has been the cornerstone of Bicester Fire Station and a pillar of the community for over 30 years.

"We will miss his calm and composed manner dealing with all range of incidents from special service calls, fires, road traffic collisions to name a few. 

"Thank you is never enough for all he has done for the station and the station won’t be the same without him."

Bicester Fire Station said: "The station won’t be the same without ‘Fruity’, we wish you a happy and healthy retirement spending time with your family."

Mr Mann was also the officer in charge of the first fire engine to arrived at the scene of the Longfields school fire in 2007.

He also responded to a fire at the old pioneer when kitchen items began to self-combust, the Alcoa fire in Banbury, an abattoir fire at Gawcott, and a field fire at Barford St Michael where Mr Mann met his wife Donna.