THE manager of York and Selby Community Furniture Stores has retired after 24 years of service.

Keith Hicks has been with the stores, which have helped thousands of families furnish their homes cheaply and rescued hundreds of tonnes of furniture from going to landfill, since it was first set up by the Council for Voluntary Service with help from local churches and charities in 1988.

Steve Lord has been appointed as the new general manager, now based at The Raylor Centre and Bawtry Road Industrial Estate, Selby. Steve, who has been financial administrator since 2002 and before that was a volunteer from 1991, will manage its nine full-and part-time local staff at York and five at Selby, as well as work experience trainees and other volunteers.

Joanne Beisly has also joined as York store manager from Staples.

Ros Batchelor, chair of trustees, said: “We’re going to miss Keith very much. He has given incredible dedicated service to the store and led it through huge growth.”