CHAMPAGNE flowed in a Suffolk office as toasts were made to a dedicated colleague who has worked for 20 years without taking a single day off.Trading Standards officer Dave Pearsons, 53, admitted that he sometimes wakes up wondering if he can "really face it" but in two decades he has never failed to complete the nine to five.

CHAMPAGNE flowed in a Suffolk office as toasts were made to a dedicated colleague who has worked for 20 years without taking a single day off.

Trading Standards officer Dave Pearsons, 53, admitted that he sometimes wakes up wondering if he can "really face it" but in two decades he has never failed to complete the nine to five.

In fact the last time the dad-of-two had a day off sick was when he was aged 34 and was stuck down with chickenpox.

The Ipswich father revealed that his enviable track record is helped by the fact he loves his job with Suffolk County Council.

"It's a healthy lifestyle. You get out of the office quiet a lot and get to meet various people. You find out what food stuffs are bad for you and other goods – so you try not to electrocute yourself with a power tool or something. I suppose you would call it occupational good fortune," he said.

"I suppose it goes back to my childhood. If my dad didn't go to work he didn't get paid and that's still in-built."

Trading Standards director Alan Fletcher and county councillor Peter Monk presented their steadfast colleague with a bottle of champagne in a surprise ceremony.

Blushing Mr Persons, who has been with the council for 33 years, said "I play a bit of football and one time I mentioned to somebody that I had hardly had a day off.

"Two weeks later I had my leg in bandages. I hope I'm not attempting fate."