A nurse whose career in Bradford hospitals spans five decades is to retire.

Shirley Hannah, pictured, was so keen to be a nurse that she started work in her chosen vocation on her 16th birthday, back in 1960.

And until her retirement, she was the longest-serving nurse in employment at Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital.

Her farewell brings down the curtain on a 42-year career in the NHS - all of it spent in Bradford - which began as a nurse cadet in 1960 and ended as assistant director of training and development.

Shirley, who is 58, said: "It's all I ever wanted to do. When I was young I used to bandage my dad and give him liquorice sticks as medicine."

She went from being a nurse cadet to training as a midwife, then becoming ward sister in the gynaecology ward at St Luke's Hospital, a job which she said was probably the one she enjoyed the most.

And Shirley said she had seen a lot of changes in the nursing profession over the years.

"When I first started the job, the NHS was a relatively new organisation, really.

"The speed of change in the last 20 years has been staggering.

"Nursing has come on in leaps and bounds. It's no longer the handmaiden's job of the past.

"There are so many opportunities now. You can be a research nurse, we have diabetic specialist nurses and cancer specialists."

And Shirley, who was born in Eccleshill and has lived in Bradford all her life, has never lost her enthusiasm for the job.

She said: "I'd still recommend people who are interested to go into the career. I have no regrets at all.

"It's hard work and the hours sometimes make it difficult to fit in a social life, but it's rewarding.

"I've had a brilliant time, made lots of friends and worked with some fantastic people."

Shirley's evangelism about the job led her younger sister Linda Parker to follow her into nursing.

And her son, Michael, 26 , works in the NHS as a podiatrist, or foot specialist.

Philip Turner, the trust's operations director, said many NHS staff owed the successful development of their careers to Shirley.

"She has demonstrated unparalleled inspiration and mentorship to many of our staff.

"Of particular note is the innovative work she has led in terms of the recruitment of staff, particularly those from minority ethnic groups within the community whose 'home grown' skills and attributes the local NHS has long been keen to harness," he said.

She had also been instrumental in programmes to highlight the NHS careers available to youngsters, forging links between the hospitals and schools.

Mr Turner said: "Bradford's hospitals have not only lost one of their most familiar faces, but they also say farewell to a great friend and mentor to of many their staff and patients.

"Her retirement marks the end of an era, for the local health service in general, and for nursing and midwifery in particular. "

Shirley plans to continue working as a nurse for two days a week and spend her spare time learning to play golf, following the Yorkshire Building Society Concert Brass Band, which Michael has been conducting, and travelling with husband Leslie.