Len was originally appointed town manager by Lewes District Council in 1998 and, when the town council was formed in 1999, he became the town clerk.

During his time Len has overseen the transition of the town council from a small parish style council to a busy, quality status town council with a turnover of nearly £1m.

He has been actively involved in schemes which include the acquisition of a large number of properties from the district council which include the Salts and Crouch recreation grounds together with the Seaford Head Golf Course and the Martello Tower and promenade.

He has also been heavily involved with the setting up of the new multi-functional building at 37 Church Street and the provision of Christmas lights in Broad Street.

Len has always been particularly proud of his very first scheme which was the mass planting of daffodils on the roadsides at the entrances to Seaford and in other open spaces.

He said, "I have had 12 enjoyable years working for the people of Seaford but I now feel it is time to move on and seek new challenges."

The chairman of the council's finance and general purposes committee, Councillor Eddie Collict said, "We are extremely sorry to lose Len who has been at the forefront of all of the schemes to improve the town and without him we would never have obtained Quality Council status. We wish him well for the future."

Len's last day will be on Friday (August 29).